ORLANDO, Fla. -- When the Steelers picked up the fifth-year option on Ryan Shazier's rookie contract last spring, it did so with the intent on signing him to a long-term deal in the future. But doing so also meant Shazier's contract became fully guaranteed if he suffered a major injury in 2017 and became unable to play in 2018.
Unfortunately for both Shazier and the Steelers, that became reality Dec. 4 of last season when he suffered a serious spinal cord injury in a win at Cincinnati.
The Steelers have already declared that the linebacker won't play in 2018, locking in his salary at a guaranteed $8.71 million. The Steelers are tight against the salary cap but have no intentions of doing anything with Shazier's contract -- such as an extension -- for relief.
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