Detroit, Michigan: Lions Place Linebacker Jack Campbell on Injured Reserve After Neck Injury

The Detroit Lions placed linebacker Jack Campbell on injured reserve on Saturday, November 7, six days after he was carted off the field with a serious neck injury in a win over the Minnesota Vikings.

Campbell was hurt on the first play of the fourth quarter on November 1, when his head hit tight end T.J. Hockenson's hip on a tackle. He was taken from the field on a cart and has been in a hospital since the game. Under league rules, a move to injured reserve keeps him out for at least four games. He will not play on Sunday, when Detroit visits the Miami Dolphins.

His condition is improving, the team says

Head coach Dan Campbell said on Friday that his linebacker continues to improve. The Lions have not released a diagnosis or a timeline for a return.

In a statement released by the Lions on Wednesday, Jack Campbell said he has regained full movement in his lower body and was "continuing to make progress with movement" in his upper body. He said in the statement that he was "very optimistic" about his recovery.

"We are getting a better handle on this," Dan Campbell said. "Jack continues to improve, which is all great news and there again this is about, man, how would he prepare, how would he play? Those are the standards for us going into this game. We owe it to him."

A win for Campbell

The Lions, 5-2 going into the Miami game, have taken a win for Campbell approach to the week. Linebacker Derrick Barnes said a key to victory is to "prepare and play" the way Campbell would. Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said he wakes up every day asking himself, "What would 46 want me to do today?"

Trevor Nowaske is expected to start at linebacker next to Barnes and Malcolm Rodriguez while Campbell is out, according to Pro Football Talk.

Roster moves

In the same set of moves on Saturday, the Lions signed defensive back Nick Whiteside to the active roster from the practice squad. The team also elevated edge defender Anthony Lucas and running back Jabari Small from the practice squad to the active and inactive list for the Miami game.

Campbell, 26, is a first team All Pro and the winner of the Butkus Award. His move to injured reserve is a roster step, not a medical update. The next medical word will come from the team and from Campbell himself, and this article will be updated in place when that word arrives.