Ryan Shazier has feeling in his legs, father says
The father of Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier spoke to WPXI about his son's recovery for a segment that aired Thursday, the one-month anniversary of Ryan's spinal injury.
Vernon Shazier said Ryan now has feeling in his legs, but that wasn't the case immediately following his Week 13 injury. Vernon received a phone call from Ryan just minutes after his wife informed him of Ryan's injury.
"He said, 'Daddy, pray for me. I can't feel my legs,'" Vernon said.
Vernon declined to comment on whether Ryan was walking, saying he didn't want to go into detail.
"He's much better," Vernon said, "but we've agreed to keep his progress private until he's ready to share where he's at."
Ryan was hospitalized after delivering a hit just more than three minutes into the Steelers' eventual win against the Cincinnati Bengals. He grabbed for his back after falling to the ground at Paul Brown Stadium, but didn't move his legs. He was carted off the field on a stretcher.
"When your child is laying there in a situation like this, I was hoping and wishing I could switch positions with him," Vernon said.
Ryan was hospitalized in Cincinnati for two days before returning to Pittsburgh. He underwent spinal stabilization surgery at UPMC under the care of team physicians Drs. David Okonwo and Joseph Maroon.
"He's making progress daily," Vernon said. "He's a long ways from where he was Monday night when he was laying on the field."
Ryan watched the Steelers' final two regular season home games against the New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns from a suite at Heinz Field. He was also seen in a wheelchair at the Steelers' practice facility on Dec. 23.
Asked if he thought Ryan would play football again, Vernon said yes.
"I Shalieve," he said. "I Shalieve."
'Shalieve' has been used as a statement of support since Ryan's injury.
"When he went down," Vernon said, "all of us went down with him."
