Ryan Shazier Injury Update: Steelers Linebacker ‘Making Strides’

Injured Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier took to Instagram Wednesday to share his condition following spinal stabilization surgery. Shazier thanked his fans for their prayers and support and said he was "making strides."

Shazier, 25, suffered a serious spinal injury during a December game against the Cincinnati Bengals during a tackle gone wrong. He subsequently had spinal stabilization surgery, though since then, few details regarding his condition have been released. Shazier posted a photo of himself in a wheelchair wearing Steelers gear alongside the update.

"I'm working harder than I ever have to get back," Shazier wrote. "I’ve been making strides over the past month and continue to make progress. Taking it day-by-day, but I’m far from done. The Lord has not finished his work yet."

Shazier said he was finally able to make it to practice with his teammates, calling it "great to be back."

“I want to thank the Lord for the first downs that he has been allowing me to achieve," he said. "The touchdown is going to come in his timing, but today was a first down. I was finally able to make it to practice with my teammates. It’s great to be back for practices and meetings. Just to be able to feel a part of it means the world."

Shazier ended the post by asking for continued prayers and said he would be working daily on improving his health. It remained unclear when or if Shazier would walk again, though his father recently told local news outlet WPXI-TV his son regained some feeling in his legs.

"He's making progress daily," said Vernon Shazier. "He's a long ways from where he was Monday night when he was laying on the field."

In an interview with ESPN, Vernon called his son's improvement "encouraging" but said the family was taking it one day at a time.

Shazier was placed on the Steelers' injury reserve after his injury, marking the official end to his season. Prior to his injury, Shazier was in the midst of the best season of his career thus far. He continued, however, to support his team by FaceTiming players after a big win and appearing at practices and at least one game.

Fans and friends rallied around Shazier using the hashtag "Shalieve" after his injury.

"I know he wasn't out there with us, but he was there in spirit," wide receiver Antonio Brown said of Shazier after the Steelers took home the AFC North championship title. "And I know he was our biggest supporter, watching us fight together today."