Jack Campbell injury update: Lions share 'positive news' on LB's neck injury - USA Today

Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell suffered a neck injury and was carted off the field against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season.

On Nov. 2, the team provided an update on Campbell. The Lions shared that Campbell is continuing to rest and recover, adding that preliminary tests are positive.

Head coach Dan Campbell pointed to that update at his press conference, which began about 30 minutes after the team released the news. He also asked for continued prayers, saying that they are working and the news is positive.

It was a press conference that came about 24 hours after Campbell, a linebacker and team captain, went down with the injury.

Campbell laid motionless on the turf at Ford Field on Nov. 1 after making a tackle against a fellow former Iowa Hawkeye, T.J. Hockenson. Down for more than 10 minutes, the scene in Detroit served as a sobering reminder of just how violent and dangerous football can be.

Campbell was immobilized, loaded onto a backboard and taken to the hospital, leading to an emotional on-field reaction from teammates.

Here's what to know about Campbell, inside and outside the white lines.

Campbell is continuing to rest and recover at a local hospital, according to an update provided by the Lions on Nov. 2.

The team added that preliminary indications are positive, but no further information will be shared at this time out of respect for Campbell and his family.

Dan Campbell, the team's head coach, spoke about the incident during his press conference on Monday, Nov. 2. He called it a difficult situation to deal with for everyone involved.

Campbell kicked off his press conference on Nov. 2 by referencing the update the team already provided on the linebacker.

"It's positive," the coach said. "Your prayers are working. Please continue to do that. We'll leave it at that, so continue to pray for him. But it is positive news on Jack."

The Lions coach also noted that the team knows what is going on with their teammate. Campbell said he visited with his linebacker after the game on Sunday. The team joined their coach at the hospital, but not everyone was able to get into the room because tests were being done.

"I got to go see him last night," Campbell said. "It was good, it was positive. I got to see his parents, talk to his wife. You know, everybody's in good spirits. It's about the recovery. It's a small setback. That's the family. They're very positive, so that's good in that regard."

Campbell also took a moment to praise the Vikings' coach, Kevin O'Connell for his support during this time.

"Kevin O'Connell, man, he's a class act," Campbell said. "Looking out for him, checking in on Jack. I know those guys said a prayer for Jack. And that just says a lot about the humanity of it. 

"We're highly competitive. This league is highly competitive. But it is a brotherhood. And it just puts things in perspective. These are human beings, man, that have families and real lives. So it's just a classy deal, man."

USA TODAY Sports followed head coach Dan Campbell's press conference and provided live updates on Monday, Nov. 2.

The Lions have not provided a concrete update on Campbell’s exact condition. The team noted that the preliminary results are positive, something Dan Campbell echoed at his press conference on Monday, Nov. 2.

However, the exact nature of Campbell’s neck injury and whether he has any movement in his extremities has not been shared.

Campbell went down with a neck injury after making a tackle against Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson in the fourth quarter.

He remained down on the field as the training staff and medical personnel surrounded him and the cart arrived. Campbell was loaded onto a backboard before the cart took him off the field.

Lions teammates took a knee and looked concerned as staff attended to him. Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson was in tears while the game was paused.

Campbell was resting and was scheduled to remain in a local hospital overnight for continued evaluation and monitoring, the Lions announced late Sunday night.

He was transported to a local hospital to be evaluated for a neck injury after exiting the team's Week 8 win over the Vikings.

Head coach Dan Campbell didn't have an update on the linebacker after the game.

"Thoughts and prayers are with Jack and his family," the coach said. "He's being taken care of. We don't have any new information."

Campbell is a linebacker for the Detroit Lions.

The 26-year-old is in his fourth NFL season, all with Detroit. Campbell was drafted by the Lions with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft after starring in college for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

A native of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Campbell broke out during his junior season with the Hawkeyes, totaling 143 tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a sack in 2021. Returning for his senior season, Campbell was named an All-American in 2022 in addition to receiving the Butkus Award as the top linebacker in college football.

He also received the William V. Campbell Trophy, also known as the "academic Heisman," in 2022 for being recognized as the college football player with the best combination of academics, leadership and on-field performance.

Campbell slid right in as a key piece to the Lions defense following his arrival in the NFL. However, he didn't officially break out until his third season. Campbell recorded 176 total tackles, three forced fumbles and five sacks en route to being named a first-team All-Pro and earning his first Pro Bowl appearance last season.

On May 21, 2026, the Lions recognized Campbell's breakout with a four-year, $81 million extension.

Prior to his injury in Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season, Campbell hadn't missed a game in his four-year career.

Campbell has been married to his wife, Megan, since June 2024.

The couple met during their time together at Iowa, where Megan also starred as an athlete on the women's basketball team.

"We were both college athletes required to spend the summer training for our respective sports," the couple wrote on their wedding website. "We owe it all to Peterson Dorm in Iowa City where we became great friends before eventually dating the following fall of our sophomore year."

Formerly known as Megan Meyer, she finished her college basketball career at Drake.

The Campbell family welcomed their first child, Cooper James, on July 3, 2026. Megan shared the news on Instagram with the caption:

"Cooper James Campbell 🤍7/3 - The beginning of our favorite chapter yet! We love you so much buddy 💌."

The couple announced on Instagram in February that they were expecting.

Campbell and Hockenson were not teammates.

The linebacker started his Hawkeye career in 2019, the same year that Hockenson was drafted by the Lions. The tight end was selected with the No. 8 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Lions, but the two never crossed paths in college despite both starring at Iowa.

Campbell and Hockenson weren't teammates with the Lions.

Like ships in the night, Hockenson was exiting as Campbell entered. The tight end was traded from the Lions to the Minnesota Vikings during the 2022 season, marking the end of his time in the Motor City.

Campbell was drafted by Detroit during the following offseason.

As the Campbell situation unfolded on the field, NFL on Fox camera showed an emotional Hutchinson, clearly shaken by what happened to his teammate.

Hutchinson was attempting to rally his defense as medical staff tended to Campbell. He spoke about it after the game.

"It's a scary thing," Hutchinson said. "I wouldn't wish it on anybody."

He spoke about the helpless feeling of being on the cart and then highlighted how much Campbell means to the team.

"He's everything, man," Hutchinson said. "He's a captain, leader, teammate, husband, father, everything. We're all praying for him."

Quarterback Jared Goff told reporters after the game that Campbell's injury was a reality check.

"Definitely scary and just brings you back to reality for a moment," Goff said. "He's a husband and a father. We're praying for him and hoping he's gonna be alright. If I know anyone that's tough enough to get through something like that, it's gonna be him."

The quarterback pointed out that it isn't easy to get back into the game after a major injury like that.

"It's always so surreal, stuff like that happens, blow the whistle and we're off again," Goff said after the game. "It's hard. It's really hard and I think you gotta remind these guys are humans and deal with stuff."

Reed chose to focus on Campbell the person instead of Campbell the player after the game. The cornerback told reporters that there is a lot that goes through your mind during those moments, saying that they are praying for him and his family.

Like his teammates, Barnes wasn't worried about football when Campbell went down.

"I know they're worried because I was worried, but I can only imagine how they feel," Barnes said, talking about Campbell's family. "In those types of moments you just say, 'forget football.' It's about the person. Football is the last thing on my mind when that happened.

While the locker room was in good spirits following a big win over the division rival Vikings, there was also plenty of concern for Campbell's health.

The team took a knee and prayed after the game.

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