NFL

Next ‘24-48 hours’ critical for Steelers star with scary injury

Ryan Shazier has “some movement in his lower extremities,” NFL.com reported Tuesday morning after the Steelers linebacker left a Monday night game with a traumatic back injury.

The report added that the next 24-48 hours are critical for Shazier to see increased movement. Shazier will remain in a Cincinnati hospital until at least Wednesday to undergo further testing on a spinal injury suffered in the first quarter of Monday night’s 23-20 win over the Bengals.

“Thank you for the prayers,” Shazier tweeted Tuesday evening. “Your support is uplifting to me and my family. #SHALIEVE”

Teammates and members of the opposing Bengals were visibly shaken after Shazier made a tackle, immediately reached for his back and then had to be taken from the field on a stretcher. Shazier stayed overnight in a hospital with a back injury while the rest of the Steelers headed home.

“Ryan’s injury will not require surgery at this time, and he continues to improve,” Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said after the game. “He will stay overnight to continue evaluations with the hopes of returning to Pittsburgh on Tuesday.”

Coach Mike Tomlin visited him after the game.

“Right now, we’re just happy that he’s getting the necessary medical attention that he deserves,” Tomlin said.

It was the most frightening injury in a game full of vicious and illegal hits. Thousands of dollars in fines are expected to be handed out by the league later in the week.

Antonio Brown caught a game-tying 6-yard touchdown pass while taking a hit to the head — one of many that crossed the line — and Chris Boswell kicked a 38-yard field goal on the final play for a victory over the stunned-again Bengals.

With AP