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Shazier recovering following frightening injury

By Tyler Vasbinder

CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 04: Ryan Shazier #50 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts as he is carted off the field after a injury against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half at Paul Brown Stadium on December 4, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 04: Ryan Shazier #50 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts as he is carted off the field after a injury against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half at Paul Brown Stadium on December 4, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images) /
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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, Ryan Shazier, continues to be evaluated after being carted off the field Monday night against the Bengals.

A brutal and bloodthirsty 23-20 Steelers win on Monday night was overshadowed with concern injured linebacker Ryan Shazier.

“He’s in good spirits (and) already making progress. God has him,” teammate Mike Mitchell tweeted Tuesday. Shazier was announced to have suffered a spinal contusion, with NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reporting that he does have movement in his lower extremities.

Shazier suffered the frightening injury in the first quarter of the game attempting to tackle Bengals receiver Josh Malone. Making contact with the crown of his helmet, Shazier dropped to the ground and immediately reached for his back. No movement was visible among the lower half of his body.

He would be stretchered out of the stadium and taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. There, he was joined by GM Kevin Colbert, coach Mike Tomlin and owner Art Rooney II after the game.

"“I really have no update in terms of his medical status,” Tomlin told reporters at his Tuesday press conference, according to Pro Football Talk. “Obviously it was a tough evening, but, man, Ryan’s a trooper. I had an opportunity to spend some time with him. He’s in really good spirits. Tough guy.”"

Shazier, 25, has been a  dynamic force for the 10-2 Steelers this season. He leads the team in tackles (89), passes defensed (11) and interceptions (3). After struggling with injuries early in his career, he had appeared in every game this season.

The incident was the first of a number of plays that has brought the player safety issue back to the forefront. JuJu Smith-Schuster and George Iloka both landed illegal hits in the fourth quarter that have now resulted in one-game suspensions.

Smith-Schuster’s hit – a peelback block reminiscent of Hines Ward’s infamous block on Bengals linebacker Keith Rivers – resulted in linebacker Vontaze Burfict leaving the game on a stretcher. Bengals running back Joe Mixon would also leave the game with a concussion.

Next: Steelers biggest remaining threats of 2017

After the game, Ben Roethlisberger chalked the violence up to “AFC North football.” He’s not wrong, but this type of play can’t be repeated next week when Pittsburgh takes on the Baltimore Ravens. For the players’ sake.

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