Steelers doctor provides update on Ryan Shazier

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier suffered what has to be considered one of the scariest injuries in recent NFL history Monday night against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Shazier was ultimately carted off the field and taken to the intensive care unit at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in an ambulance.

Without the Steelers themselves being able to provide much of an update early in the day on Shazier’s condition, the team doctor was able to do just that Tuesday afternoon.

As we already know, the injury is said to be a spinal contusion in the back. While Shazier likely won’t have to undergo surgery, the fact that he has to remain in Cincinnati for as much as the next 48 hours for observation can’t be seen as a great thing.

Additional testing will be conducted for the next 1-2 days before Shazier himself returns to Pittsburgh for further testing.

Obviously, there’s no timeline for the linebacker’s return to the field. The focus here should be on stabilizing him and finding out exactly what’s ailing the Pro Bowler. At that point, the focus can turn to a potential future in the NFL.