Detroit, Michigan – After suffering a terrifying injury on the field last week, NFL linebacker Jack Campbell has broken his silence.
After a tackle on Minnesota tight end TJ Hockenson on Sunday, Campbell was left lying on the ground, moving his arms and head only briefly before collapsing.
The game was paused for minutes as fans and players prayed, with some even weeping.
Finally, some good news came on Wednesday.
"I’m incredibly encouraged by the progress I’ve made in such a short period of time," Campbell said in a statement released by the Detroit Lions.
"I have full movement in my lower body, and I’m continuing to make progress with movement in my upper body."
"I know there's still work ahead, but I remain very optimistic. I’m taking things one day at a time, staying positive, and focusing on getting better," the 26-year-old added.
He thanked everyone – also on behalf of his family – "from the bottom of my heart" for the overwhelming support from football fans, his fellow players, and NFL pundits.
Detriot Lions linebacker Jack Campbell has "full movement" in lower body
Out of respect for the Campbell family, his team and the league had refrained from providing details about his condition.
The 26‑year‑old was treated for several minutes on the turf Sunday and taken straight to a hospital after the entire team was able to say goodbye to him on the field. Detroit's 19‑15 victory was almost a side note.
To this day, many details remain unavailable to the public.
Whether it's a temporary paralysis, a spinal‑cord injury, or other neurological issues is still speculation.
There are also no concrete statements about possible surgeries, lasting damage, or when he might be discharged from the hospital.