Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell has provided a positive update on linebacker Jack Campbell after the player suffered a frightening injury during Sunday afternoon’s game.
The All-Pro linebacker lay motionless on the field at Detroit’s Ford Field after attempting to tackle Minnesota Vikings star TJ Hockenson.
Campbell was placed on a backboard and taken to hospital, with his wife and baby son at his side. He remained there overnight.
The Lions initially declined to comment further, but the team issued an update on Monday afternoon.
In a statement posted on X, the Lions said: ‘Jack Campbell continues to rest and recover at a local hospital.
‘Preliminary indications are positive and out of respect for Jack and his family we will not share further information at this time.’
The Detroit Lions confirmed that linebacker Jack Campbell will remain in hospital
The All-Pro linebacker lay motionless on the Ford Field turf in Detroit on Sunday
Head coach Dan Campbell urged fans to continue praying for the linebacker
Shortly after the team’s statement was released, Dan Campbell offered further details during a press conference.
He said: ‘On Jack, I know that there was a release we put out. It’s positive. So, your prayers are working. Please continue to do that. But it is positive news on Jack.’
Campbell added: ‘I got to see him last night. It was good. It was positive. You know, I got to see his parents [and] talk to his wife. Everybody is in good spirits.’
Asked whether any of Campbell’s Lions teammates had visited, the head coach replied: ‘A lot of people went over there but not everybody got to see him.
‘He was running some tests, things of that nature. So, you know, at some point it gets hard to have everybody in there’.
As Campbell was taken from the field on a backboard, players from both Detroit and Minnesota knelt in a show of support.
Lions star Aidan Hutchinson appeared particularly shaken as he and his teammates attempted to continue playing after Campbell’s serious neck injury.
As the defensive captain, Hutchinson was tasked with rallying his teammates before play resumed. He delivered an emotional speech while visibly close to tears.
Emotional footage from the locker room has also emerged, showing Dan Campbell leading the Lions in prayer for the injured linebacker.
In footage released by the Lions, Campbell said: ‘I’m gonna lower this mood a little bit.
Campbell (right) suffered a serious injury while attempting to tackle TJ Hockenson (top)
Emotional locker room footage has emerged showing Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell leading a prayer for linebacker Campbell following his terrifying injury on Sunday
‘I do not have any more information on Jack. We don’t know anything else at this point. So here’s what I wanna do. We’re gonna take a knee. Now I wanna pray for Jack, and let’s keep in our thoughts and prayers’.
The Lions opted to omit the prayer itself from the footage however, as he prepared to take the knee, head coach Campbell appeared overcome with emotion – with a red face and tears seemingly streaming down his face.
The footage resumed following his prayer, showing quarterback Jared Goff breaking down the locker room huddle.
‘Hey, I love you boys. Stick together. I know that [it’s] tough with Jack. Stick together, lean on each other. Alright?’, Goff said.
The former Iowa star was drafted by the Lions with the No. 18 overall pick in 2023.
Last season, Campbell was an All-Pro selection after becoming the first NFL player in seven years to have 150-plus tackles and at least five sacks and three forced fumbles.
The Lions signed Campbell last May to a four-year, $81 million contract extension that runs through the 2030 season.
His injury comes in the middle of a huge year on and off the field, with him and his wife Megan having welcomed their first child to the world, a boy called Cooper, back in February.