Brown’s Career Over After Neck Surgery

Reggie Brown’s chances of recovery are good but his football career appears over.

The Detroit linebacker had spinal neck surgery Monday after he was injured during a victory over the New York Jets that sent the Lions into the playoffs. He will wear a neck brace known as a halo the next three months.

“The surgery to stabilize Reggie Brown’s vertebrae has been completed and the surgery went well,” team physician David Collon said in a release issued by the Lions. “His condition remains stable. At this point, we begin the process of observation to see how his condition progresses.”

Brown’s face turned blue after a collision on a tackle, and a doctor gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the field.

“At this point, it is hard to say how serious and how permanent his injury is,” Collon said. “The first 72 hours after such an injury are important. The next two weeks also will tell us a lot.”

When asked if the 23-year-old player’s career was over, Collon said: “I guess you could make that supposition.”

Brown, who was taken off the Silverdome field by ambulance Sunday, regained consciousness at a Pontiac hospital. After about 45 minutes, Brown was taken to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit where the surgery was performed.

During surgery, the first and second vertebra of the neck were fused. He will remain in the hospital for about two weeks.

“He was unconscious until just before we got to the hospital,” said Terry Lock, another team physician. “Then, he was very lucid. He was especially worried about his girlfriend.”

Collon said Brown had a clear understanding of his situation and was handling it well.

“He’s starting from a very good position,” Collon said. “He’s strong, he’s young and he’s healthy. I’d say his chances are very good.”

Lion Coach Bobby Ross visited Brown on Monday.

“Reggie was very happy that we won the game,” Ross said of the 13-10 victory. “It wasn’t a long conversation.”

The raucous crowd turned almost silent in the fourth quarter with Brown stretched on the ground. Play was delayed play 17 minutes as medical personnel worked to revive him.