Linebacker Ryan Shazier will not play football in 2018, Steelers GM Kevin Colbert told reporters at the NFL combine. Colbert stressed that Shazier will continue to be a valuable member of the team and noted that he is “covered” contractually. 
Shazier suffered a scary spinal injury while making a tackle against the Bengals on Dec. 4. The news on Shazier’s overall recovery has been promising, but it’s still unclear as to whether he’ll be able to return to football at some point. For his part, Shazier says he wants to play again.
“I got to get back,” Shazier said recently. “Right now I’m reading a book and it’s basically saying trust the process. I’m really trusting the process. I know the end goal. So I’m taking every step of the way, I’m giving everything I got. The therapists are like, ‘Man this is crazy; I’ve never seen anyone work this hard.’ They almost see progression every day.”
Shazier, 25, tallied 68 tackles and 11 pass defenses before the injury and earned a Pro Bowl selection despite playing in only 12 games. Prior to that, he logged 55 tackles in each of the previous two seasons.
Family and health first. Football isnt important.
As long as he is well enough to live a full life off the field, football can take a hike.
So glad to hear this man is doing better. Now if the football player can recover as well, so be it! Way to go Ryan! God Bless!
Won’t play??? Is he even walking yet?
He’s nuts for even thinking about playing. I know it’s what he’s lived for, but an injury like that is not worth being paralyzed the rest of your life. Glad he’s doing well, though.