Ryan Shazier expects to play Sunday vs. the Patriots

[SteelCrazy]

I don't know how anyone could possibly gauge something like that? What I can say if you put Lambert in the league today, even in his prime, I don't think he even gets on a roster. Besides in Lamberts day middle linebackers basically just where run stuffers they could get away with playing with more injuries because even if their athleticism was hindered they could still run straight ahead.

You're a Wizard and you can't possibly gauge something like that? Its only an opinion based on what toughness was and is...If this were an exact science and it counted, none of us would be here. I know I wouldn't...Rayyy

[Mr.wizard]

You're a Wizard and you can't possibly gauge something like that? Its only an opinion based on what toughness was and is...If this were an exact science and it counted, none of us would be here. I know I wouldn't...Rayyy

Well I just think that era that they play in makes all the difference, If you put Lambert in today's game I don't think he would be tougher or injured less. In my opinion with everything that middle linebackers have to do today Lambert would not make it through a season.

[SteelCrazy]

Well I just think that era that they play in makes all the difference, If you put Lambert in today's game I don't think he would be tougher or injured less. In my opinion with everything that middle linebackers have to do today Lambert would not make it through a season.

You're probably right, but that's not much fun

[Slapstick]

It's kinda ironic that China Doll wuss Shazier is playing, while God's gift to linebacking C.J. Mosley is out injured. Guess he can't play with a booboo.

Shazier is the best player on our defense with Cam Heyward out again but, among Steeler fans, it seems like he is the most hated LB who isn't named Vontaze Burfict or Jarvis Jones.

Ouch! Truth hurts!

[feltdizz]

It's kinda ironic that China Doll wuss Shazier is playing, while God's gift to linebacking C.J. Mosley is out injured. Guess he can't play with a booboo.

Shazier is the best player on our defense with Cam Heyward out again but, among Steeler fans, it seems like he is the most hated LB who isn't named Vontaze Burfict or Jarvis Jones.

Well... there it is

The guy single handily won our playoff game last year too

[Oviedo]

No doubt that Shazier is our best defender...Still doesnt change the fact that hes often injured with minor dings.

So an MCL is a "minor ding?" Guess Ben's meniscus is a "scratch." Guess on line medical degrees are easy to get

Didn't Bell miss significant time with an MCL? Guess he is wuss too.

[pittpete]

LB Ryan Shazier has a sprained MCL. Hoping to get back before Week 8 bye.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) October 10, 2016 (https://twitter.com/JFowlerESPN/status/785541812341571593)

A sprained MCL and he's out 3 games...Tough it up youre getting paid millions of dollars.
Bell had an MCL tear which required S U R G E R Y
Cant believe the blind loyalty here to a guy who has missed 14 games in 3 seasons..
Wasnt it a booboo shoulder last year?
Comparing Shazier to Lambert is a disgrace.

What is in the back of every fan's minds is the fact Shazier has not just suffered injuries every year he has been in the league, but a lot of those injuries were downplayed and then saw him miss weeks of games. As a rookie it was a "boo boo" to his knee, it was then his shoulder injury last season and now the knee injury.

[NJ-STEELER]

Technically speaking a sprain is a minor tear I believe

[squidkid]

at least shazier knows he is being called soft............i would think that if he is any competitor that would get to him to play thru some of these injuries

[pittpete]

Yes, correct..When you lift weights you also tear muscles.

[RuthlessBurgher]

A minor, or grade 1, MCL tear can take from a few days to a week and a half to heal sufficiently for you to return to normal activities, including sports. A grade 2 tear can take from two to four weeks to heal. A grade 3 tear usually takes from four to eight weeks to heal, unless it is associated with damage to the ACL, in which case the recovery time may be longer.

[Mr.wizard]

Ryan Shazier has nothing to gain by sitting out, he is still under his rookie contract and is playing for a big pay day. It's not a matter of toughness, if these where injuries he could play with, he would be out there.

[squidkid]

Ryan Shazier has nothing to gain by sitting out, he is still under his rookie contract and is playing for a big pay day. It's not a matter of toughness, if these where injuries he could play with, he would be out there.

todays athletes think they can play part time and still demand huge money.

[Shoe]

You all who are defending Shazier, listen: I like the kid, everyone who is critical of him like him too. I think he can be great. But after three seasons, it is clear that these aren't "unfortunate" or part of the job injuries. Pouncey and Bell are examples of unfortunate circumstances... can't help those.

With Shazier, these are relatively minor injuries that turn into half the year. This current injury was being reported as a day-to-day injury, one that a guy like Lambert (since he was mentioned) or Harrison would definitely play in. I can say definite, because I've seen Harrison listed with a similarly "minor" injury on the injury report many times--and he's always out there. And this isn't the first time with Shazier. I can't remember the one previous, but it was the same sort of deal (I think last year was a shoulder? where it was just supposed to be a stinger. Turned into a month and half or something.) That is the issue.

For the record, Polamalu was a similar kind of guy. He would get injured and be useless for months. I suppose that is the way certain guys are built. But let's not try to obfuscate the issue here. Let's not pretend that Shazier is Pouncey or Bell, and he's certainly no Lambert when it comes to playing in paind.

[Mr.wizard]

todays athletes think they can play part time and still demand huge money.

Do they? I would love to see you back that up.