Injured Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier remains hospitalized following surgery last week on his injured spinal column, but his physician offered the first update on his condition in over a week Thursday.
"Ryan Shazier remains hospitalized at UPMC recovering from the spinal stabilization surgery performed last week by UPMC neurosurgeons and Steelers team physicians Drs. David Okonkwo and Joseph Maroon," the release read. "Mr. Shazier has started physical rehabilitation as part of his recovery process. Further updates will be provided by UPMC."
Shazier suffered a lower back injury in the first quarter of the Steelers' 23-20 win at Cincinnati Dec. 4. He spent the next two nights hospitalized in Cincinnati before being transported to Pittsburgh Dec. 6. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve by the Steelers Tuesday.
No further updates are available at this time.
To respect the privacy of UPMC patients, no additional information is available at this time. We will provide future updates as appropriate.
— UPMC (@UPMCnews) December 14, 2017
Shazier displayed movement in his arms and head following the injury but, according to some teammates, did not have feeling in his lower extremities. It is not known if his rehabilitation includes walking at this time.
Shazier, a Pro Bowl inside linebacker in 2016, leads the Steelers in tackles, interceptions and passes defensed.