Shazier (spine) announced Wednesday via his personal Twitter account that he has retired from professional football.

EDGE Analysis

Despite his best efforts to come back from the severe spinal injury he suffered in a Dec. 4, 2017 game against the Bengals, Shazier was ultimately never able to make the progress needed to receive medical clearance to resume his career. The 28-year-old linebacker spent the past two seasons on the Steelers' reserve/PUP list before the team shifted him to the reserve/retired list in March. He's expected to remain with the organization in some capacity as he transitions to life after football. The Steelers' first-round pick in 2014, Shazier appeared in 46 games over four seasons, totaling 275 tackles, seven sacks and seven interceptions while picking up two Pro-Bowl nods.

The Steelers have placed Shazier (spinal injury) on the reserved/retired list, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

"Ryan's placement on the Reserve/Retired List serves as a matter of protocol to ensure his continued inclusion within our organization moving forward in his professional career," Steelers GM/Vice President Kevin Colbert said Tuesday. Shazier hasn't played for the team since suffering a spinal injury during a Dec. 4, 2017 contest against the Bengals.

Shazier (spine) still hopes to resume his football career at some point, but there hasn't been any indication that it will happen in 2020, Joe Rutter of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

EDGE Analysis

Shazier suffered a severe spinal injury in December 2017 and wasn't able to walk until April 2018. He spent the past two seasons under contract with the Steelers, staying on the reserve/PUP list. Shazier's contract is expected to expire this offseason, but the Steelers may decide to re-sign him for the veteran's minimum of $820,000. His role with the team last season included mentoring rookie linebacker Devin Bush, the 10th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

The Steelers placed Shazier (spine) on the PUP list.

EDGE Analysis

Since suffering a spinal injury on Dec. 4, 2017, Shazier has embarked on a lengthy recovery effort with the aim to take the field again at some point, "I definitely want to play," he said in January. "I am putting everything into it." As evidence, Shazier posted a video on Instagram of himself performing a box jump with some assistance in early April. While he won't play in 2019, the Steelers will keep the linebacker around with the hope he'll return to football in some capacity.

Shazier (spine) had his contract tolled for the 2019 season Tuesday, Bob Labriola of the team's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Tolling Shazier's contract means that he will remain on the Steelers' roster for 2019 and eventually land on the reserve/PUP list. He will also accrue seasons toward his NFL players' pension. The Steelers continue to support Shazier as he works to eventually gain medical clearance and resume his NFL career, though there's no chance the 26-year-old linebacker sees the field before 2020 at the earliest.

Shazier (spine) won't play in 2019 despite hoping to resume his playing career, Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

EDGE Analysis

Shazier is scheduled to become a free agent in March but the Steelers have said they will keep the linebacker with the organization for the upcoming season. Though the team wants to keep him there is no chance the linebacker sees the field in 2019. Shazier is continuing to seek medical clearance but he won't be able to play until 2020 at the earliest.

Shazier (spine) still wants to resume his NFL playing career once medically cleared, TribLIVE.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Shazier began jogging in December for the first time since suffering the spinal injury in early December 2017. The Steelers kept the 26-year-old under contract for 2018 despite knowing he would not see the field, and he is now set to become a free agent once the new league year begins. Owner Art Rooney II indicated the team would like to re-sign Shazier, though how exactly they would do so remains unclear given the unique injury situation.

Shazier (spine) has resumed jogging for the first time since he suffered a serious spinal injury, Stephen Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

Shazier initially sustained a serious spinal injury in December of 2017, and a year later has managed to jog for the first time since his surgery. The two-time Pro Bowler appears to be making substantial progress in his recovery, considering that doctors initially told Shazier there was less than a 20 percent chance he'd walk again, and he has not lost hope regarding an eventual return to the field. Shazier officially remains on the Steelers' PUP list.

Shazier (spine) has officially been placed on the reserve/PUP list, Teresa Varley of the Steelers official website reports.

EDGE Analysis

Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert announced months ago that Shazier wouldn't see the field during the 2018 season, so this is merely confirmation of that previous report. Look for Shazier to continue to go through his rehabilitation with the organization's medical staff after a serious spinal injury cut his 2017 campaign short, and at this point, it appears his goal is to eventually return to the field to continue his playing career at some point in the future.

Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert announced Wednesday that Shazier (spine) won't play during the 2018 season, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic Pittsburgh reports.

EDGE Analysis

While Shazier remains hopeful to resume his career after suffering a serious spinal injury Dec. 4 that required surgery two days later, the linebacker hasn't made enough progress in his recovery at this point for the Steelers to realistically consider activating him in 2018. Colbert indicated that Shazier, who is due $8.72 million next season after the Steelers exercised his fifth-year team option last April, will be around the organization in some capacity even while he remains unavailable to play. In addition to continuing his rehab under the supervision of team doctors, look for Shazier to act as a de facto assistant coach for the Steelers and provide an uplifting presence in the locker room.