Jack Campbell reports full lower body movement after neck injury
The Detroit Lions tight end shared his recovery progress in a statement released Wednesday, while teammate Amon-Ra St. Brown discussed the emotional toll of the play.
By Vikram Harrison ·
Detroit Lions tight end Jack Campbell reported on Wednesday that he has regained full movement in his lower body following a severe neck injury sustained during a game against the Minnesota Vikings. In a detailed statement, Campbell noted that he is also making progress with movement in his upper body, though he acknowledged that work remains ahead.
The injury occurred while Campbell attempted to tackle Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson. Campbell went limp during the attempt and fell face down on the field. Medical staff immediately attended to him before transporting him to a hospital. Teammate Amon-Ra St. Brown described the scene as harrowing, saying it changed how he views the sport.
St. Brown, 27, discussed the incident on his podcast. He recalled watching Campbell lie on the ground from a distance and immediately thinking about the tight end's wife and newborn baby. St. Brown said he wanted Campbell to be able to play with his child and return to a normal life. He noted that the injury made it difficult to return to the field after medical staff placed Campbell on a stretcher and sent him to the hospital.
"It’s like, damn, we just, we took care of him, put him on a stretcher, sent him out back to the hospital, and now we gotta go play again. So, that kinda sucks, I feel like," St. Brown said. He added that while injuries are part of the violent nature of football, Campbell's specific injury forced the team to reconsider their priorities.
Campbell expressed gratitude for the support he has received from his family, teammates, and the Detroit community. He described the Lions organization as a family and said he is proud to be a Detroit Lion. The tight end said he is taking his recovery one day at a time and staying positive. He emphasized that his faith is strong and that he is encouraged by the short-term progress he has made.
In his statement, Campbell said he has full movement in his legs. He is continuing to work on movement in his upper body. He described his approach to the challenge as one of toughness, resilience, and grit, traits he associated with the Detroit community. He asked fans to continue to keep him and his family in their prayers.
St. Brown said the team is focused on Campbell's recovery. He noted that the entire team is thinking about Campbell and hopes he continues to get better. The wide receiver said the incident has put things into perspective for the squad, highlighting the importance of health in a physically demanding career.
