Detroit Lions star Aidan Hutchinson was visibly distraught on the field as he and his teammates tried to play on in the wake of Jack Campbell’s serious neck injury.
Sunday’s NFL action was marred by a terrifying injury to the All-Pro linebacker, who was left motionless on the turf after trying to make a tackle on Minnesota’s TJ Hockenson.
Campbell was loaded onto a backboard and transported to the hospital with his wife and baby son by his side, and the latest update from the team revealed that he would remain there overnight.
No further update has been given on his condition, other than that he was ‘breathing and alert’ as he left the stadium and headed to the medical facility.
Given the severity of the injury and the lack of clarity on his condition, it was understandably difficult for the players to continue the game, and that showed in Hutchinson’s reaction.
As the captain of the defense, it was left to him to rally his teammates for the end of the game, and he gave a rousing speech before the resumption, even while his eyes filled with tears.
Aidan Hutchinson was visibly distressed as he tried to rally his Detroit Lions teammates
Hutchinson looks concerned as medics tend to Jack Campbell after his scary neck injury
On social media, fans were also left emotional watching it unfold, with one viewer writing: ‘I love that man’s passion for his teammates and this game.’
A second added: ‘Oh man, @aidanhutch97 – we are all supporting you, the team, your families, and most of all Jack and his family! Can’t imagine seeing it and being there and trying to keep the other guys going.’
The Lions did go on to seal a 19-15 win, handing the Vikings their first loss of the season, and Hutchinson spoke to the media in the locker room afterwards.
‘I don’t know the status of Jack, but I think from that point on, just seeing something like that, him being down for so long, yeah, I think from that moment on we really – it was for 4-6, man,’ Hutchinson said, referencing his teammate’s roster number.
‘Again, we don’t really know the status, but we’re praying for him.’
In the away locker room, the same sentiment was shared by the Vikings, with head coach Kevin O’Connell extending his thoughts to Campbell at the start of his press conference.
Campbell (right) suffered a serious injury while attempting to tackle TJ Hockenson (top)
Campbell laid motionless on the field as medics rushed to his aid during the fourth quarter
‘I did wanna start out and just mention that we are all thinking and praying for Jack Campbell,’ he began. ‘I asked Dan [Campbell] after the game if he had any update, he didn’t have much of one.
‘Definitely something you hate seeing. Competitive, super physical NFC North game. But still hard to talk about the result when you see something like that. So, just thoughts and prayers for him, for sure.’
In a post on X, the Lions gave the most recent update on his condition shortly after 7pm. It read: ‘Jack Campbell is resting and will remain in a local hospital tonight, for continued evaluation and monitoring. The team will provide further updates as we have them.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Lions for further information on Campbell’s condition.
When the scary incident occurred, Detroit’s entire team and most of the coaching staff surrounded the cart before it transported Campbell off the field.
The Lions star was loaded onto a backboard and carted off the field to a waiting ambulance
Campbell’s wife Megan and their four-month-old boy Cooper traveled with him to hospital
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 he and his wife Megan having welcomed their first child to the world, a boy called Cooper, back in February.
