Ryan Shazier Attends Steelers Practice: I'm Working Harder Than Ever to Get Back

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier was at the team's practice on Wednesday as they prepare for Sunday's AFC Divisional Round game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.  

In a post on Instagram, Shazier noted Wednesday was just "a first down" on his journey toward getting back on the field:

Shazier suffered a spinal injury while making a tackle on Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Josh Malone during the Steelers' 23-20 win on Dec. 4.

Two days later, Shazier underwent spinal stabilization surgery. He was in attendance at Heinz Field for the Steelers' Week 15 game against the New England Patriots. 

On Jan. 4, Shazier's father, Vernon, told WPXI-Pittsburgh his son regained feeling in his legs. 

“He's making progress daily,” Vernon said. “He's a long ways from the night when he was laying on the field.”

Vernon added the family has agreed to keep any information on his recovery progress quiet until Ryan was ready to share it. 

A first-round pick by the Steelers in 2015, Shazier started all 12 games he appeared in this season. The 25-year-old tied for second on the team with 89 combined tackles despite missing the final four games.