Ryan Shazier's father says the injured player now has feeling in his legs, according to a report from Pittsburgh's WPXI 11 News .
The Steelers linebacker suffered a serious spinal injury in a Monday Night Football game Dec. 4 against the Bengals, and has been recuperating from a spinal stabilization surgery on Dec. 6.
Vernon Shazier told WPXI that his son is improving.
"He's making progress daily," he said. "He's a long way from where he was on Monday night."
SIGN UP to watch every NFL game live on DAZN
On whether Ryan Shazier is walking yet: "I don't want to go into it a whole lot," his father said.
The Steelers have not elaborated on the surgery Ryan Shazier underwent, or his prognosis. But outside analysts have said if it involved a fusion procedure, full recovery could take up to six months.
Vernon Shazier got emotional when recalling that moment on Dec. 4 when his son called him after the injury.
"He said, Daddy, pray for me. I can't feel my legs,'" Vernon Shazier said.
“When your child is laying there in a situation like this, I was hoping and wishing i could switch positions with him."
Ryan Shazier made his first public appearance recently at Heinz Field, attending the Steelers' game against the Patriots.
Vernon Shazier, who is an NFL chaplain, told WPXI that faith is helping the family through the crisis.
"I laid my hands on the shoulder of the doctor and I prayed for him," he said.