Lions’ Jack Campbell in hospital overnight with neck injury

Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell stayed in a local hospital overnight with a neck injury after being strapped to a backboard and carted off the field during Sunday’s 19-15 win over the Minnesota Vikings, the team said.

“Jack Campbell is resting and will remain in a local hospital tonight, for continued evaluation and monitoring,” the Lions said in a statement carried by Pro Football Rumors. The team said it would give further updates as it has them.

No update on his condition had been published in the reports reviewed by Canada News Media as of Monday morning, and the Lions have not given a diagnosis or a timeline for his return. The Associated Press reported that Campbell was alert and breathing when he was taken to hospital.

The injury made “Jack Campbell” one of the most searched names in Canada over the past day, with Google Trends showing more than 50,000 searches. The name is also shared by a goaltender who has played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers. This story concerns the NFL linebacker.

The injury came on the first play of the fourth quarter at Ford Field. Campbell and teammate Eric O’Neill combined to tackle Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson, and Campbell then went limp, CBS Sports reported. CBS said he appeared to move his head and pull his body forward slightly while lying face down before trainers reached him.

Medical staff worked on him for about 10 minutes, according to CBS Sports. Detroit’s players and most of its coaching staff surrounded the cart before it left the field, the AP said, and the crowd applauded as he was lifted onto it.

“We’re thinking about him,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said after the game. He told reporters he had no other information beyond the fact the player was receiving care.

The win moved Detroit to 5-2 and handed Minnesota, previously unbeaten, its first loss, Sports Illustrated reported. Players said their thoughts were with their teammate more than with the result.

Campbell, 26, is a defensive captain in his fourth season with Detroit, according to Sports Illustrated. The Lions drafted him 18th overall out of Iowa in 2023. He had a career year in 2025, with 176 tackles, five sacks and three forced fumbles, and was named a first-team all-pro, CBS Sports said.

He signed a four-year, US$81-million contract extension in May, which made him one of the highest-paid off-ball linebackers in the NFL. He had 57 tackles in seven games this season, the most on the team, Pro Football Rumors reported.

Losing him for any length of time would hurt a defence that entered the week ranked last in the league in points allowed per game, Pro Football Rumors said.

The Vikings had been at the top of our NFL power rankings after Week 7. For more on the league’s Canadian connections, see our Week 1 takeaways.

This is a developing story and will be updated when the Lions release more information.

Sources: The Associated Press via The Canadian Press, CBS Sports, Pro Football Rumors, Sports Illustrated.

If you find reporting like this useful, consider supporting Canada News Media, an independent Canadian newsroom with no corporate parent.