Steelers LB Ryan Shazier discharged from rehab center, moves to outpatient program
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier reached another milestone in his rehabilitation process Thursday.
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center announced on social media that Shazier, who underwent spinal stabilization surgery in December, has been discharged from its rehabilitation center and will move to an outpatient therapy program.
"To respect the privacy of UPMC patients, no additional information is available at this time," UPMC wrote in a second tweet.
Ryan Shazier wrote on Instagram that this was "a big day for me" and thanked his family, teammates and UPMC doctors and staff for their help so far.
"I want everyone to know that all of the support and prayers are absolutely being answered," he concluded. "I will continue to work hard and push and find a way back."
Shazier is recovering from a spinal injury that he suffered in a December game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He returned to Heinz Field two weeks later to watch the Steelers face the New England Patriots and attended a team practice in a wheelchair last month.
Shazier's father, Vernon, told a Pittsburgh television station about a month ago that his son has regained feeling in his legs and is "making progress daily."
“He's a long ways from the night when he was laying on the field," Vernon Shazier told WPXI-TV.
Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.
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