SUNDAY’S GAME Dolphins at Bills,1 p.m., CBS MORE DOLPHINS: Shazier injury weighs on Timmons,
For three seasons, linebackers played together as Steelers.
DAVIE — Lawrence Timmons isn’t a Steeler anymore.
Ryan Shazier no longer is a teammate.
It does not matter.
When Timmons saw the horrific play in which Shazier, a Steelers linebacker, suffered a severe spinal injury while making a tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 4, the shock waves traveled all the way to South Florida.
“It killed me,” Timmons told The Post on Friday afternoon in his first public comments on Shazier.
For three seasons, Timmons lined up alongside Shazier. So like many, Timmons immediately feared this was no ordinary injury by the way Shazier rolled over and sent a distress signal for help.
“Everything was self-explanatory, especially with somebody you played with,” Timmons said. “Anytime you play a football season with someone — everybody knows. There’s extra sentiment there.”
Timmons texted Shazier, hoping to raise his spirits. Shazier had spinal surgery but remains at UPMC Hospital in Pittsburgh and is beginning physical rehabilitation.
“I texted him a few times, but I haven’t really talked to him,” Timmons said. “But he’ll do better to be with family right now.
“But the love is definitely there.”
Timmons overlapped with Shazier for three seasons in Pittsburgh before joining the Dolphins as a free agent this season.
Shazier played high school ball 6½ miles from the Dolphins’ training facility, at Plantation High, and was the Steelers’ first-round draft choice in 2014. He started five games as a rookie, then became a starter, making 55 tackles two years in a row alongside Timmons. Shazier had 68 tackles this season.
Timmons said he knew from the start that the Steelers had drafted somebody special.
“You could tell,” Timmons said. “He was always gifted, 4.3 speed. I mean, the kid had it all.”
That includes a veteran linebacker to show him the way.
“We were close,” Timmons said. “I talk to him all the time. I always tried to help him because I was the older guy. But he bloomed to such a great athlete. I have nothing but good things to say about him. It just sucks it happened to a guy like that.”
Neither Shazier nor the Steelers have addressed whether he can eventually resume playing, although, of course, that’s secondary at the moment.
“I wish all the love and care and health in the world to him,” Timmons said.
Injury report: All the momentum the Dolphins have built over the past two weeks is tenuous as they head into what promises to be a frigid game at Buffalo on Sunday, and health will be a big factor in their ability to maintain it.
As Miami strives to stay in the playoff chase and even its record at 7-7, here are some personnel updates from Friday afternoon’s practice:
■ One of the biggest concerns is rookie cornerback Cordrea Tankersley (ankle, shoulder), who missed Monday night’s game against New England. He was on the field for the beginning of practice, but the Dolphins listed him as doubtful.
■ Cornerback Xavien Howard (illness) was back, but he’s still sick. Howard said he will play against Buffalo.
■ Defensive end Andre Branch (knee) looks like he’ll be available.
■ Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (ankle) didn’t fully practice Thursday and wasn’t dressed for Friday’s practice.
■ Quarterback Matt Moore (foot) continued to practice, though the Dolphins are likely to stay with David Fales as the backup quarterback to Jay Cutler.
■ Running back Damien Williams (shoulder) was on the field but didn’t appear to be practicing.
■ Safety Michael Thomas (knee) also wasn’t practicing, but there’s still a chance he’ll play. It looks like the plan for him is to be cautious during the week but play in games.
■ Defensive end Cameron Wake and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh were not practicing during the portion open to the media, but neither is believed to have an injury. The staff has been giving them occasional days off lately.
Howard had flu during two-INT game: The best game of Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard’s career came on a night he spent vomiting on the sideline because of the flu.
Howard was everywhere in Miami’s 27-20 victory over the Patriots and intercepted Tom Brady twice despite being miserable the entire day.
“Yeah, I was throwing up mostly like water,” he said after Friday’s practice. “And I took some Pedialite, so I was just throwing it up.”
He came down with the illness Monday morning at the team hotel and did everything he could to even consider playing that night. He was administered two bags of intravenous fluids, and none of that really helped. He played nonetheless.