The Pittsburgh Steelers are trying to do right by Ryan Shazier.
The Steelers linebacker won’t play in 2018, but his team will pay him what he would have earned in salary this season through a contract-conversion method, ESPN’s Field Yates reported Thursday morning, citing a source.
Shazier is rehabilitating from the devastating spine injury he suffered Dec. 4 in the Steelers’ Week 13 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers placed him on the physically unable to perform list Wednesday, ruling him out for the 2018 season.
Nevertheless, the team made the salary-to-bonus conversion so Shazier will receive the money immediately, instead of over the course of the season. The contract tweak has no salary-cap implications for Pittsburgh, according to Yates.
Shazier vows to play again, and he clearly has the Steelers’ full support as he travels the long road to recovery.
