NFL roundup: Ryan Shazier returns to Steelers practice for the first time
By Brad Weiss
With the NFL Playoffs in full swing, the Pittsburgh Steelers got a pleasant surprise at practice Wednesday in injured star Ryan Shazier.
Since suffering the scariest injury of the NFL season a month ago against the Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers star linebacker Ryan Shazier has been working his way back. On Wednesday, he showed up at Steelers practice for the first time since the injury, attending the practice session in a wheelchair. There is no word as to whether Shazier will be able to play football again, but his presence at practice had to be a sign of hope for his Steelers teammates.
After the 2017 NFL season, the Green Bay Packers bid adieu to defensive coordinator. It did not take them long to find his replacement, as they hired Mike Pettine to run the defense on Wednesday. Pettine is big on blitzing, and while his stint as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns looked like a failure at the time, that 7-9 record he posted back in 2014 has to look like a welcoming sight after the team went 0-16 last season.
The Detroit Lions looked to be the front-runner to get New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, but things are a bit cloudy now. Patricia appears headed for New York, where he is now in contention to get the head coaching job of the Giants. Current Patriots head coach Bill Belichick got his start with the Giants, and you would have to assume he would be happy if his protégé made the move to the Big Apple.
Norv Turner has always been considered a tremendous offensive mind, and while his stints as a head coach have not yielded much, he is still well-respected in the league. Turner had served as the offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings as recently as the 2016 season, but he stepped down from the role before he could be fired. He is now a lead candidate to get the same role in Carolina, where he has a good relationship with head coach Ron Rivera and the spot is definitely his for the taking.
Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Giants, Jets gets QBs
The mass exodus in Seattle continued on Wednesday, as two more coaches were shown the door. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and offensive line coach Tom Cable were both fired by the organization, clearing two more spots on Pete Carroll’s coaching staff. The Seahawks missed the playoffs for the first time since 2012, as the team suffered some devastating injuries to their defense. There is still a ton of talent on the roster, so these openings will be coveted to say the least.