Steelers’ Ryan Shazier Ruled Out For 2018 Season After Spinal Injury

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be without their defensive leader for the upcoming NFL season.

Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert told reporters Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine that linebacker Ryan Shazier, who suffered a season-ending spinal injury in December, will not play in 2018.

“He knows that and we know that,” Colbert said, via ESPN.com. “We’re going to continue to support him in his recovery.”

Colbert said Shazier, who was voted to the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons, will remain involved with the team as he recovers from his injury.

“He will be part of our team officially and really unofficially because he’s still with us day-to-day as he rehabs,” the GM told reporters. “He involves himself in team issues so he can be a formidable member in 2018.”

Following spinal stabilization surgery, Shazier spent nearly two months in a Pittsburgh hospital before being discharged Feb. 1. The 25-year-old said last week he hopes to return to the football field at some point.

“The therapists, they’ll be like, ‘Man, this is crazy. I’m happy to be working with an athlete because I’ve never seen somebody work this hard,’ ” Shazier said on Steelers fullback Roosevelt Nix’s podcast, via NFL.com. “They see progression almost every day. They say some progression they see week to week, they see from me day to day. I’ve got to get it. I’m really trying to come back and still be a Pro Bowler, still be an All-Pro.”