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Three days ago Steelers’ linebacker Ryan Shazier was forced to leave this week’s Monday Night Football game on a stretcher after suffering a scary back injury.
Today, in a brief statement the Steelers announced that Shazier had undergone spinal surgery last night.
“[University of Pittsburgh Medical Center] neurosurgeons and Pittsburgh Steelers team physicians Drs. David Okonkwo and Joseph Maroon performed spinal stabilization surgery on Ryan Shazier to address his spinal injury,”
ESPN’s Michele Steele spoke with a neurologist who works with the NFLPA and he believes that Shazier may never be able to play football again.
Via Pro Football Talk
Dr. Anthony Alessi, who consults with the NFL Players Association, told Michele Steele of ESPN that although he hasn’t examined Shazier, he does believe that Shazier’s spinal stabilization surgery is a procedure that indicates a very serious injury.
“It’s not good,” Alessi said. “We’re not going to see him this season. He may not play football again.”
Although reports on Monday night indicated that Shazier suffered a spinal contusion, Alessi said the surgery means that’s not the case.
“This is a much more severe situation on our hands than we thought,” Alessi said.
The Steelers have not said whether Shazier has any movement in his legs, or whether they expect him to recover from his injury.
This is heartbreaking, hopefully Shazier just gets better and can live a normal life even without football.