It appears that Detroit Lions’ linebacker Zack Follett has escaped paralysis after a scary-looking injury Sunday against the New York Giants.
Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand is not that lucky.
LeGrand suffered a spinal cord injury Saturday in the Scarlet Knights’ 23-20 overtime victory against Army and has no movement below his neck, the school announced today.
LeGrand was injured while making a tackle on a kickoff with 5:10 left in regulation against Army. LeGrand lay motionless for seven minutes while his neck was immobilized and he was placed on a backboard and then carted off to Hackensack University Medical center.
The injury was at the C3-C4 level of LeGrand’s vertebrae, and emergency surgery was performed to stabilize his spine. LeGrand is in intensive care at Hackensack and is expected to remain there for the near future, according to a statement released by the Rutgers athletic department.
“We want to say thank you to everyone for all of your prayers, kind words, and well wishes,” the LeGrand family said in the statement. “We appreciate every single thought. Eric is in good spirits and we are praying for a full recovery.”
Said Rutgers football coach Greg Schiano: “Eric, his family and the Rutgers Football family believe he will recover. We ask our fans and the entire Rutgers community to believe and pray for Eric as he begins the recovery process.”