PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier practiced on a limited basis Monday, and afterward the rookie said it could go either way regarding the sprained ankle that he will try to practice on all week with an eye toward playing Sunday.

“I could feel way better or way worse [by the end of the week],” Shazier said following the Steelers’ first practice of the week.

Given how miserable Shazier’s luck has been with injuries less than a season into his NFL career, the first-round draft pick may be due to catch a break. Of course, the Steelers will err on the side of caution with Shazier, who has already missed six games because of two separate incidents in which a player rolled onto his right leg.

That is why Shazier is probably questionable at best to play Sunday when the Steelers host the New Orleans Saints.

“The most important thing [is] the way the ankle responds throughout the week,” Shazier said. “If the trainers think I’m looking good, I’m going to try to play, but if they don’t feel like I’m ready I’m going to listen to them and do what they ask me to do.”

Shazier is undersized as an inside linebacker, but the 6-foot-1, 237-pounder said that has not been a factor in the sprained knee and sprained ankle he has sustained after also missing a preseason contest because of a knee injury.

Shazier did not miss a game in three seasons at Ohio State, which is the main reason he thinks he is just enduring a run of bad luck. Linebackers coach Keith Butler also said that Shazier’s size isn’t an issue when it comes to injuries, noting that the dependable and durable James Farrior played his final seasons at 225 pounds.

“I’ve never really had this type of thing happen to me before. I’m just trying to stay focused and I’ve got great guys on the team to keep me motivated,” said Shazier, who has recorded 25 tackles while playing parts of five games. “It’s been [an] up-and-down [season] but as long as we win that’s all that matters to me. I just want to keep working and get in the playoffs.”