FATHER: STEELERS’ SHAZIER IMPROVING
PITTSBURGH» The father of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier says his son has made significant progress since suffering a spinal injury in Cincinnati last month.
Vernon Shazier told WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh that his son is “a long ways from where he was on that Monday night when he was lying on the field.” Ryan Shazier left the first quarter of Pittsburgh’s victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 4 with a spinal injury. He underwent spinal stabilization surgery Dec. 6. The extent of his injury has not been disclosed, though Vernon Shazier said Ryan has some feeling in his legs.
Vernon Shazier said the family has decided to keep the details of Ryan’s injury private until he is ready to discuss it. When asked if he believes his son will play football again, Vernon Shazier said yes.
Area player declares for NFL draft.
Sam Jones, a former ThunderRidge High School offensive lineman who recently finished his redshirt junior season at Arizona State, is leaving school early to enter the NFL draft.
The 6-foot-5, 290-pound Jones, an All-Colorado selection by The Denver Post in 2012 and 2013, made the announcement on social media.
“I’m excited to announce that I have decided to forgo my last year of college football and enter the 2018 NFL draft,” Jones wrote. “A special thank you to (former Arizona State coach Todd) Graham for giving me a chance and helping me grow as a man and a football player. Forever a Sun Devil.”
• Oklahoma offensive tackle Orlando Brown, a 6-8, 345-pound redshirt junior, is entering the NFL draft. He is projected as a high first-round pick.
• Texas A&M hired Notre Dame defensive coordinator Mike Elko to coach Jimbo Fisher’s defense.
• Washington State defensive coordinator Alex Grinch is leaving the Cougars and joining Ohio State as an assistant coach, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press.
Serena Williams withdraws.
Defending champion Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Australian Open, saying she is not ready to return to tournament tennis just a few months after giving birth. Williams was pregnant with her first child when she won last year’s tournament.
• Andy Murray’s hip problem will keep him out of the Australian Open.
Footnotes.
Tiger Woods announced he will play in the Farmers Insurance Open on Jan. 25 at Torrey Pines, the San Diego course where he has won eight times, and the Genesis Open at Riviera in Los Angeles that starts Feb. 15. … Marc Leishman had eight birdies and a 6-under-par 67 for a oneshot lead in the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Kapalua, Hawaii. He was one shot ahead of Brian Harman and Jhonattan Vegas in strong wind on the Plantation Course at Kapalua. … The Rapids will open their Major League Soccer season March 10 at New England. The home opener was pushed back from March 3 to March 24 against Sporting K.C. because the Rapids are in the Champions League play. … Former all-star pitcher Mark Prior joined the Los Angeles Dodgers as bullpen coach. … Marcel Hirscher won a men’s World Cup slalom in Zagreb, Croatia, for his 50th career victory, becoming only the fourth male skier to reach that mark. Hirscher beat Austrian teammate and first-run leader Michael Matt by 0.05 seconds. Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway was 0.11 behind in third. … Filip Gustavsson made 29 saves and Sweden used a three-goal third period to beat the United States 4-2 in the world junior hockey semifinals. Drake Batherson had a hat trick to lead Canada over the Czech Republic 7-2. … Rob Picciolo, a former majorleague infielder who later coached with the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Angels, died of a heart attack at age 64. … Longtime Yale football coach Carmen “Carm” Cozza died at 87. Cozza led Yale to a share of 10 Ivy League titles during 32 years as coach. — The Associated Press