Lions linebacker Jack Campbell was carted off on a backboard on the first play of the fourth quarter Sunday at Ford Field. The injury came as he tackled Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson. Pro Football Talk's Myles Simmons described it as a "concerning injury situation developing in Detroit." Pride Of Detroit reported that Campbell appeared to go limp on the tackle and was bent awkwardly backward. It said he was transported to a hospital.
The outlets describe the exit differently. PFT and Yahoo Sports say he was carted off on a backboard. Sportsnet and another Yahoo piece say stretcher. Yahoo said he lay motionless, and that training staff and medical personnel surrounded him until the cart came out. NFL Trade Rumors was the only outlet to name a type of injury. It said Campbell appeared to have a head-and-neck injury, but it also said the exact nature was unclear. None of the reporting we have gives a diagnosis, and no outlet has said anything about his availability.
The Lions won the game, 19-15 over the Vikings, according to our box score. Campbell had three tackles in it, all assists, before he left. That adds to 54 total tackles this season, 29 of them solo, in six games. Detroit has played seven games, so he has missed one of them. He has no sacks or forced fumbles. Pride Of Detroit and Yahoo both called him an All-Pro. NFL Trade Rumors noted that Detroit declined his fifth-year option, worth $21.925 million.
The result keeps Detroit at 5-2 with a three-game winning streak. The Lions are third in the NFC North, one game behind Minnesota (6-1), which has lost for the first time since the streak began. The Bears are also 5-2. Detroit's run differential is +23, behind Minnesota's +47. The Lions controlled the game on the ground, with 230 rushing yards to the Vikings' 81 and nearly 36 minutes of possession. Their defense held Minnesota to 266 total yards. Any absence for Campbell would hit a unit that has just done that.
Detroit's next game is at Miami on Sunday, Nov. 8. The Dolphins are 1-5. The first thing to watch before then is an official update on Campbell's condition from the team.
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