Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier underwent spinal stabilization surgery Wednesday night after returning to Pittsburgh, according to a statement released Thursday afternoon by the team.
According to the statement, the surgery was performed at a UPMC facility by team doctors David Okonkwo and Joseph Maroon.
Statement from UPMC Neurosurgeons & #Steelers Team Physicians on Ryan Shazier pic.twitter.com/nE7xgsx7Tx
— Burt Lauten (@SteelersPRBurt) December 7, 2017
Shazier, 25, suffered an injury to his lower back early in the first quarter of Monday night's game at Cincinnati, which the Steelers won, 23-20, while making this tackle.
Shazier was on his back on the field for several minutes before being taken off on a back board and transported directly to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. The team announced late Wednesday afternoon he had returned to Pittsburgh.
Several of his teammates gathered around Shazier as he lay on the ground, including safety Mike Mitchell and fellow inside linebacker Vince Williams.
"I cried, Vinnie cried. That was my brother," Mitchell said Wednesday. "We walked out there, that was the thing that shook me up a little bit. Shay had tears in his eyes. I could clearly see that he was scared. For him to say to me what he said, it took all the strength out of my legs."
Shazier has movement in his arms and neck but lost at least some feeling in his legs. Reports Tuesday morning on NFL Network said he had regained some feeling in his legs.
The fourth-year linebacker and former first-round draft pick is very popular with his teammates and made his first Pro Bowl last season.
"It's scary, first off, because any time a person has surgery, you're worried," said teammate Arthur Moats, who will likely replace Shazier at inside linebacker when the Steelers host the Baltimore Ravens Sunday. "When they're saying that's going to be the best thing for him, then we're all for it. You're concerned for him after seeing him go down like that on Monday."
Tyler Matakevich replaced Shazier against the Bengals but suffered a shoulder injury in the second half that has left him sidelined at practice this week. Pittsburgh also signed veteran free agent Sean Spence, their former third-round draft pick who spent all of last season in Tennessee and three games with Indianapolis this season.
The Steelers also have L.J. Fort at inside linebacker, but he is viewed as more of a special teams player.
Moats, who last played inside linebacker when he was with the Buffalo Bills from 2010 to 2013, said he's not concerned about Shazier returning to play for the Steelers (10-2), who still have four games remaining in the regular season and are closing in on clinching a playoff spot for the fourth consecutive season.
"That's the last thing we're worried about," Moats said. "After seeing him on the field like that, I just want to see him walking. When he rolled over like that on the field, you saw the way it looked."
Defensive coordinator Keith Butler agreed.
"All I am is hopeful that he gets well," Butler said. "I'm not worried about him playing for us again. I'm worried about him. I think you all have been updated as much as we have. We're hopeful and we're praying that he comes back OK. Football is secondary. His life is a lot more important to me than football."