After getting carted off the field during Sunday's 31-13 win over the Cleveland Browns in a Week 7 matchup, Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley was able to tweet some good news Monday about his recovery in the hospital following what could have been a very severe injury.
Finley was hurt when he received a 10-yard pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers but was hit in the head by Browns safety Tashaun Gipson which led to a neck injury that caused him to lose movement in his extremities. The game was stopped for six minutes so medical personnel could attend to him and he was eventually taken off the field. Finley was in the intensive care unit at the hospital and eventually diagnosed with a bruised spinal cord in his neck.
Finley took to his Twitter account Monday night to reveal the good news to the Packers faithful, that he was taken out of the ICU and was even able to walk on his own power while saying that he had regained feeling in his arms and legs:
I want to thank my family, friends, teammates, fans and Packer Nation for the prayers and support over the past 24 hrs. I'm happy to report
— Jermichael Finley (@JermichaelF88) October 22, 2013
that I have been transferred out of the intensive care unit and that I have full feeling in my arms and legs. As importantly, — Jermichael Finley (@JermichaelF88) October 22, 2013
I was able 2 walk to & from the shower today, which was badly needed after yesterday's victory! Thank u again 4 the support, and Go Packers! — Jermichael Finley (@JermichaelF88) October 22, 2013
While it is good news for Finley, he still suffered a serious injury and there is no timetable for his return. ESPN reports that the Packers aren't going to rush him back from such a serious injury and that a team source said that a return to the field is secondary over his overall health.
Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said he spent Sunday night by Finley's side in the hospital and that there was no definite timetable for his return. McCarthy said there's more important factors at play here, such as Finley's health.
"Jermichael is very, very upbeat, very positive," McCarthy told ESPN. "Always has a smile on his face, so I mean he's focused on what's most important. That's his health and his family."
Sunday marked the second time Finley was knocked out of a game, as a hit to his head by Cincinnati Bengals safety George Iloka resulted in a concussed Finley being pulled out of a Week 3 game.
Finley's teammate and backup tight end Andrew Quarless told ESPN following the injury on Sunday that Finley told him he couldn't move and Quarless told him just to lay there as the medical staff came out. Quarless described the situation as a pretty scary one to witness.
"That look he had in his eyes, that was something that stuck with me," Quarless told ESPN. "It really hurt me just to see him like that. My brother was out there on the ground."
Finley has three touchdowns on 25 receptions for 300 yards this season. There's no telling when he will return to the field, but the most important thing right now is that he's healthy and has regained movement in his arms and legs.
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