Ryan Shazier was one of the best linebackers in the NFL. So in 2017, he suffered a career-altering injury and has not played since. He has still been under contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the Steelers placed Shazier on the reserve/retired list on Tuesday. So, will Shazier ever play football game once more?

Ryan Shazier was a stud right out of Ohio Country

In college for the Ohio State Buckeyes, Ryan Shazier was one of the all-time linebackers in the country. As a freshman in 2011, Shazier had 58 total tackles, only so he dominated as a sophomore. In 2012, Shazier had 115 tackles and five sacks. Then equally a junior in 2013, Shazier led the entire Big X in tackles with 144 to go with seven sacks. He ultimately earned first-team AP All-American honors in 2013.

The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Shazier with the 15th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He then had an instant impact on Pittsburgh's defense. He only played in nine games in 2014 and racked upwardly 36 tackles. Yet, in 2015 he had 87 tackles in 12 games. He so earned his starting time Pro Bowl selection in 2016 with 87 tackles and three interceptions in 13 games for the Steelers. In 2017, he earned his second Pro Bowl pick equally he had 89 tackles and three interceptions in 12 games.

The atrocious injury that changed his career

During a Monday Night Football game on December. 4, 2017, Shazier suffered a life-changing injury. Shazier striking Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Josh Malone in the back with his helmet, according to Yahoo Sports. He so laid motionless and was taken to the hospital. Shazier suffered a spinal injury and had surgery 3 days later to stabilize the spine.

Shazier has not played since that game. He has, however, made huge strides since that injury. He initially lost the feeling in his legs. At present, he is walking without a cane. He has as well stayed around the team working as a scout. Shazier has also mentored teammates like 2019 starting time-round option Devin Bush-league, co-ordinate to Yahoo.

Since the injury, Shazier has seemed motivated to play once more, according to the New York Post, merely will he?

Steelers place Shazier on reserve/retired list

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier looks on.
Linebacker Ryan Shazier of the Pittsburgh Steelers on the field prior to a game. | 2019 Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images

At the end of 2018, Shazier'due south contract with the Steelers was gear up to elapse. However, Pittsburgh placed him on the reserve/physically unable to perform list for 2019 and tolled his contract into 2019, according to Sports Illustrated. This immune him to stay on NFL health insurance, accrue years on his pension, and brand a minimum salary in 2019.

All the same, on Tuesday the Steelers appear that they placed Shazier on the reserve/retired list.

"Ryan's placement on the Reserve/Retired List serves as a thing of protocol to ensure his connected inclusion within our system moving forward in his professional career," said Steelers Full general Manager/Vice President Kevin Colbert in a statement.

Kevin Colbert

Teams use the reserve/retired list to retain a player's rights. The player on the list does non count confronting the salary cap or the thespian cap, though, according to WPXI. So, essentially, this means the Steelers could potentially pay him in another role within their organization. He just now will non count against their bacon cap since he is not an active player.

Right now, Shazier is considered a retired player. That does non mean he will never play again, though. This motion by the Steelers is pretty much merely to non have his bacon on their salary cap. However, if he can render at some point, the Steelers would have the first opportunity to sign him to a contract. Then, it is all the same up in the air if Shazier will e'er play football game over again. He is considered to be retired, merely he can still eventually play once again if he fully recovers from his atrocious injury.