Steelers fans roar at unexpected sight of Ryan Shazier at Heinz Field
Ryan Shazier
Steelers fans cheer behind a sign showing support for injured linebacker  Ryan Shazier  during a game against the Ravens. (Keith Srakocic/Associated Press)
As if Steelers fans didnât have enough about which to get excited Sunday  with their team hosting the Patriots in a massive AFC showdown  they were treated to an unexpected and most welcome sight:  Ryan Shazier . The injured Pittsburgh linebacker got a roar from the crowd as he made an appearance at Heinz Field.
During a stoppage in play early in the first quarter   Shazier  was shown on stadium video screens. The fourth-year player  whose career could be in jeopardy following spinal surgery earlier this month  waved a Terrible Towel from a luxury suite while remaining seated.
 Ryan Shazier  getting the crowd on  their  feet in Pittsburgh pic.twitter.com/L4cwPBPTVY â Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 17  2017
 Shazier  was injured while making a tackle in a Dec. 4 game at Cincinnati.  He  was initially taken to a hospital there before being transported to University of Pittsburgh Medical Center  where  he  underwent spinal stabilization surgery and where  he  has remained.
Earlier this week  UPMC released a statement saying that  Shazier  had begun rehabilitation  but little information has been made public about  his  condition. The Steelers placed the 2016 Pro Bowler on injured reserve Tuesday  ending his season  with team President Art Rooney II saying  âEven off the field  Ryan  will continue to be one of our team leaders. We know  his  spirit and positive outlook will help  him  to continue in  his  recovery  as well as serve as an inspiration to our team.â
 Shazier  is expected to require months of rehabilitation  and several teammates and coaches have said they just want to see  him  walk again. Some Pittsburgh players have been wearing cleats with the message âShalieve â and the team gave  Shazier  the game ball last week after clinching the AFC North title with a win over the Ravens.
 Ryan Shazier  celebrated with  his  Steelers teammates via FaceTime after Sunday night's win against the Ravens. (via mrs.shazier50/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/a6YFV6Z8gv â SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 11  2017
Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin said that  Shazier  wanted to be in attendance at Heinz Field on Sunday  and that it was part of  his  rehabilitation process. According to CBS   Shazier  did not visit  his  teammates before the game  in which 11-2 Pittsburgh was trying to stay atop 10-3 New England in the race for top seeding in the playoffs.
Steelers fans cheer behind a sign showing support for injured linebacker   [TGT]   during a game against the Ravens. (Keith Srakocic/Associated Press)
As if Steelers fans didnât have enough about which to get excited Sunday  with their team hosting the Patriots in a massive AFC showdown  they were treated to an unexpected and most welcome sight:  Ryan Shazier . The injured Pittsburgh linebacker got a roar from the crowd as he made an appearance at Heinz Field.
During a stoppage in play early in the first quarter   Shazier  was shown on stadium video screens. The fourth-year player  whose career could be in jeopardy following spinal surgery earlier this month  waved a Terrible Towel from a luxury suite while remaining seated.
  [TGT]   getting the crowd on  their  feet in Pittsburgh pic.twitter.com/L4cwPBPTVY â Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 17  2017
 Shazier  was injured while making a tackle in a Dec. 4 game at Cincinnati.  He  was initially taken to a hospital there before being transported to University of Pittsburgh Medical Center  where  he  underwent spinal stabilization surgery and where  he  has remained.
Earlier this week  UPMC released a statement saying that  Shazier  had begun rehabilitation  but little information has been made public about  his  condition. The Steelers placed the 2016 Pro Bowler on injured reserve Tuesday  ending his season  with team President Art Rooney II saying  âEven off the field  Ryan  will continue to be one of our team leaders. We know  his  spirit and positive outlook will help  him  to continue in  his  recovery  as well as serve as an inspiration to our team.â
 Shazier  is expected to require months of rehabilitation  and several teammates and coaches have said they just want to see  him  walk again. Some Pittsburgh players have been wearing cleats with the message âShalieve â and the team gave  Shazier  the game ball last week after clinching the AFC North title with a win over the Ravens.
 Ryan Shazier  celebrated with  his  Steelers teammates via FaceTime after Sunday night's win against the Ravens. (via mrs.shazier50/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/a6YFV6Z8gv â SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 11  2017
Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin said that  Shazier  wanted to be in attendance at Heinz Field on Sunday  and that it was part of  his  rehabilitation process. According to CBS   Shazier  did not visit  his  teammates before the game  in which 11-2 Pittsburgh was trying to stay atop 10-3 New England in the race for top seeding in the playoffs.