Former Ohio State Linebacker Ryan Shazier Not Expected to Need Surgery After Suffering Back Injury on Monday Night Football

By Dan Hope on December 5, 2017 at 1:23 am
Ryan Shazier was carted off the field on Monday night.
David Kohl – USA TODAY Sports
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Former Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier is not expected to need surgery after being carted off the field after suffering a back injury during the Pittsburgh Steelers' game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football.

Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said in a statement early Tuesday morning that Shazier's "injury will not require surgery at this time, and he continues to improve."

Shazier will remain at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center overnight for further evaluation, but is hopeful to return to Pittsburgh on Tuesday. 

According to reports by NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala, Shazier's injury was described postgame as a spinal contusion, but his Steelers teammates are encouraged about his prognosis, with the belief that Shazier will be able to make a full recovery.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport tweeted Tuesday morning that Shazier has "some movement in his lower extremities after last night's back injury, but the next 24-48 hours are key for increased improvement."

There still remains enough reason for concern that Shazier's father, Vernon, and many of his Steelers teammates, including fellow former Buckeye defender Cameron Heyward, took to Twitter early Tuesday morning to ask for prayers for Shazier.

Shazier suffered the injury during the first quarter of Monday night's game, when Shazier immediately fell to the ground and reached for his lower back after attempting to make a tackle on Bengals receiver Josh Malone.

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