Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier will miss the entire 2018 season as he continues his recovery from a spinal injury, general manager Kevin Colbert announced on Wednesday.
“Ryan Shazier won’t play in 2018,” Colbert said at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. “He knows that, and we know that. We’re going to continue to support him in his recovery.”
Colbert said that Shazier will be placed on an exemption list.
“He will be part of our team officially, and really unofficially because he’s still with us day-to-day as he rehabs,” Colbert said. “He involves himself in team issues so he can be a formidable member in 2018.”
Shazier sustained the injury after administering a hit in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 4. The 25-year-old underwent spinal stabilization surgery two days later and has been rehabilitating his injury to the point that he graduated to outpatient treatment.
Last week, Shazier expressed his desire to return and be an All-Pro for the Steelers.
“I’ve gotta get back, bro,” Shazier told teammate Roosevelt Nix on the latter’s podcast. “Every day, bro. Every day I’m like — right now, I’m reading a book and it’s basically saying trust the process, bro. I’m really trusting the process and I know the end goal. I’m taking it every step of the way but I’m like, I’m giving it like my football effort, like 1,000, everything I’ve got.”
Shazier finished with 89 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and 11 passes defensed in 12 games this past season. In four NFL seasons, Shazier has 299 tackles, seven sacks, seven forced fumbles and seven interceptions.