Sep 25, 2015 2 min read

PITTSBURGH – Ryan Shazier is going from having the game of his life to being in street clothes Sunday, when the Steelers travel to St. Louis.

Shazier, who suffered a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter of last week’s 43-18 win over San Francisco at Heinz Field, has been declared out against the Rams. Vince Williams is expected to start in his place.

Shazier recorded a career-high 15 tackles, three of which were for a loss, one quarterback sack, and forced and recovered a fumble against the 49ers despite leaving midway through the fourth quarter in a game he called his best as a professional.

“It definitely felt like a good game,” said Shazier. “It felt like something I was supposed to do.”

What the Steelers wanted him to do this week was practice, something he did only Friday as he sat out Wednesday and Thursday’s practices with a sore knee.

The shoulder injury isn’t considered serious.

Also out Sunday will be reserve nose tackle Daniel McCullers, who experienced some swelling his knee following the win over the 49ers and did not practice all week. Veteran Cam Thomas will serve as the backup nose tackle behind starter Steve McLendon, while either L.T. Walton or Caushaud Lyons, a pair of rookie defensive ends, could be active for the first time this season.

Cornerback Cortez Allen, who missed last week’s game with a knee injury, is listed as questionable to play.

St. Louis has two players out, running back Chase Reynolds and defensive end Eugene Sims, neither of whom is a starter.

The Rams could get a boost this week from rookie running back Todd Gurley. The 10th pick in this year’s draft, Gurley missed the first two games while recovering from a torn ACL suffered last season in college.

Gurley is listed as questionable to play against the Steelers and said earlier in the week he expects to make his NFL debut.