Colin Kaepernick, Ryan Shazier
Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Ryan Shazier (50) grabs San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) by the jersey as he scrambles in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015, in Pittsburgh. Kaepernick got loose but was tackled down field. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Home » Blog » Ryan Shazier Ruled Out Against St. Louis

Ryan Shazier Ruled Out Against St. Louis

Jonathon Natsis News NFL

Having just come off the best game of his young NFL career, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier has been officially ruled out for the team’s week 3 clash against the Rams in St. Louis.

Shazier suffered what appeared to be a minor arm injury – called a “stinger” by many who witnessed it live – while making a tackle late in the fourth quarter during last week’s decimation of the 49ers.

The injury is apparently a little more severe than first expected, as Shazier missed practice on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, en route to earning a sideline seat on Sunday.

More optimistic members of Steeler Nation are theorising that, in a more important game, Shazier would be on the field. But in a road game against an NFC opponent, and with a short week that ends with the Baltimore Ravens quickly approaching, it appears the Steelers are playing it safe.

Frankly, it shouldn’t matter what sort of niggling injuries a player has; if they’re game fit, they deserve to be on the field.

However, a player of Shazier’s skill set loses a lot of potency if he is playing with a bad arm, and the Steelers are deep enough at inside linebacker – Vince Williams and Sean Spence are both very adequate fill-ins – that they shouldn’t give up too much against an inconsistent Rams offense.

  • 100%