Updated November 4, 2026, 2:40 p.m. ET
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell has full movement in his lower body and continues to progress in his upper body movement, according to a release he released through the team on Wednesday, November 4.
Campbell continues to progress after a serious neck injury forced him off the field and immediately hospitalized during a 19-15 win over the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on November 1.
“My family and I would like to sincerely thank everyone for the overwhelming amount of love, prayers and support we have received over the past few days. It means more to us than words can express,” the statement said.
“I’m incredibly encouraged by the progress I’ve made in such a short amount of time. I have full movements in my lower body and I continue to progress in my upper body movements. I know there is still work to do, but I remain very optimistic. I am taking things one day at a time, staying positive and focusing on improving.”
On the opening play of the fourth quarter in Sunday’s victory, Campbell went limp during what appeared to be a routine tackle by tight end TJ Hockenson and received medical treatment on the field for several minutes before being carried off on a stretcher and taken immediately to a local hospital.
“My faith in God has never been stronger,” Campbell’s statement continued. “I know He has a plan for me and I trust that plan. I know there may be challenges ahead, but with my faith, my family and so many people by my side, I know we will get through this.
“I especially want to thank the athletic trainers and medical staff who responded and took care of me on the field. I know these were difficult times and I am incredibly grateful for the professionalism, compassion and care you showed me. The way you handled everything and took care of me when I needed it most is something I will never forget. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
“I also can’t say enough about the incredible care I received from the medical team at Henry Ford Hospital and the Detroit Lions medical staff. They have been wonderful to me and my family throughout this process, and I am truly grateful for everything they have done.
“To my teammates, my coaches and everyone in the Lions organization, I want you to know how much I love and appreciate you. This team is family to me, and the way everyone has been there for me means everything. I’m proud to be a Detroit Lion and couldn’t ask to be surrounded by a better group of people.
“One thing I’ve learned about Detroit is that this city is built on strength, resilience and courage. That’s exactly how I’m going to approach this challenge.
“Please continue to keep me and my family in your prayers. We feel the love and I can’t thank everyone enough.
“God is good. My faith is strong.”
This statement is the first we’ve heard from Campbell since the injury.
Lions coach Dan Campbell spoke to the media shortly after the statement Wednesday afternoon.
“I think any time you (hear that), especially being able to hear it from him, it means a lot,” Dan Campbell said. “That’s powerful in itself, more so than hearing it from me or anyone else. It’s his words and those of his family, so it’s powerful, and I know it always helps to know he’s improving.
“Because at this point, that’s all you’re looking for is just to know that he’s getting better, and you know, this thing, the status changes every eight hours, 10 hours, in a good way, you know? So that’s always going to help.”
Campbell said “some guys” took advantage of the team’s “resources” in response to a question about whether players were receiving counseling following the incident.
As for moving forward and facing Miami, Dan Campbell said there’s “no easy way” to do it, but acknowledged the best way to honor Jack Campbell’s fight is to stay focused on the team’s next game against the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium.
“You have to recognize it, let’s talk about it and make sure we know it. But I also know that they’re not postponing this game, and I know that the only way to honor Jack – we know that – the only way to really honor Jack on what he really wants is to make sure that we’re locked in and ready to go,” Dan Campbell said.
“Because otherwise, what just happened, we throw away, in a sense. So, I think we owe it to him, we owe it to all of us, to make sure that we’re locked down, and we make the most of it. So, it’s a balance, man. You’re humans. And you know that, you want to acknowledge that. It’s a lot. But if it weighs that heavy, and that’s where you are, it’s not going to be good to address this match, and that’s when you get hurt too.”
The Lions released a statement at 7:08 p.m. Sunday that Campbell was resting and would remain in the hospital for continued evaluation and monitoring. Ahead of Dan Campbell’s press conference the next day, the Lions released a statement Monday at 2:31 p.m., saying “preliminary indications” were “positive” but did not share details on Jack Campbell’s progress.
Dan Campbell said Monday that he and several of Jack Campbell’s Lions teammates visited him in the hospital.
“I was able to go see him last night. It was good. It was positive,” Dan Campbell said. “I got to see his parents, talk to his wife. And everyone’s in a good mood. And it’s about healing and (they think) it’s a little setback. It’s family. They’re very positive. So it’s good in that regard.”
Jack Campbell is a team captain and one of the most important players on Detroit’s defense. The No. 18 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft was named a first-team All-Pro for the first time last season and rewarded with a four-year extension worth $81 million this past offseason, keeping him in Detroit through 2030.
Lions All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown shared his account of the incident on the “St. Brown Podcast,” a weekly show he does with his brother and former NFL wide receiver Equanemious St. Brown.
“I think the injuries are something that makes this game so difficult and so real at the same time. Because I remember being on the field watching him, seeing him on the ground from afar, and all I could think about was his wife and his newborn baby that he just gave birth to, what, a few months ago?” » said St. Brown. “I just want him to be okay, to be able to play with his kid, honestly, and be normal.
“When things like that happen throughout the game or throughout the season, it makes it difficult. I feel like for us to go back and play, it’s like, damn, we took care of him, put him on a stretcher, sent him back to the hospital, and now we have to go back to play. It kind of sucks, I feel like it. But that’s what I signed up for, that’s what we signed up for him We get paid a lot of money to play this sport that we love, and so we have to finish the game and things like that.
“But I think injuries like that make you put things into perspective. I think he did that for a lot of us on our team. I think of Jack, we all think of Jack. We hope he continues to get better. All we can do is pray for him.”
nbianchi@detroitnews.com, rsilva@detroitnews.com
@nolanbianchi, @rich_silva18
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