Lions Beat Vikings 19-15 After Jack Campbell Is Carted Off With Neck Injury

The Detroit Lions handed the Minnesota Vikings their first loss of the season on Sunday, winning 19-15 at Ford Field. But the game will be remembered for a frightening scene early in the fourth quarter, when All-Pro linebacker Jack Campbell was strapped to a backboard, carted off the field and taken to a hospital to be evaluated for a neck injury.

As of the end of the game, there was no update on his condition. “Let me start with this, thoughts and prayers are with Jack and his family. He’s being taken care of. We don’t have any new information. We’ll keep you updated as this goes, but we’re thinking about him,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said at the start of his postgame news conference, according to Lions Wire.

What happened to Jack Campbell?

Field Level Media reported that Campbell was hurt with 14:48 left in the game while tackling Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson, as rookie teammate Jimmy Rolder hit Hockenson from the other side. FOX Sports described it as a collision with a teammate.

Campbell lay face down and motionless. According to Field Level Media, medical staff surrounded him for about nine minutes while immobilizing him and strapping him to a board. NFL.com reported that the crowd applauded as he was lifted onto the cart, and that the entire Lions team and most of the coaching staff gathered around the cart before it drove off. Field Level Media noted that he did not signal to the crowd as he left.

He had three tackles before the injury.

Was the Vikings vs. Lions game suspended?

No. Play was stopped for several minutes while Campbell was treated on the field, but the game was not suspended. It resumed after he was taken off and was played to a finish.

Jack Campbell injury update

The team said only that Campbell was being taken to a local hospital for evaluation of a neck injury, and the Lions had nothing new to share after the game. This post will not speculate on his condition. Look for official updates from the team.

Campbell is in his fourth season out of Iowa. He was the 18th overall pick in 2023. Last season he was a first-team All-Pro and won the Butkus Award, and NFL.com noted he became the first player in seven years with 150-plus tackles, at least five sacks and three forced fumbles in a season. He signed a four-year, $81 million extension in May, according to Lions Wire.

Vikings vs. Lions: how Detroit won

It was a low-scoring game for three quarters. According to Sports Illustrated:

• Detroit opened the scoring with a 25-yard Jake Bates field goal after a touchdown catch by Amon-Ra St. Brown was overturned on review.
• Kyler Murray led a 74-yard touchdown drive to put Minnesota ahead 7-3.
• Jared Goff threw his first interception of the season after Jameson Williams slipped, but D.J. Reed answered with a diving interception of Murray, and a 37-yard Bates field goal made it 7-6 at halftime.
• In the third quarter, Jahmyr Gibbs broke a 30-yard touchdown run. A failed two-point try left it 12-7.
• Minnesota took a 15-12 lead on an 8-yard touchdown catch by Hockenson. Goff then led a seven-play, 69-yard drive, finished by a 7-yard touchdown pass to Williams.

FOX Sports reported that Detroit ran for 164 yards in the second half, with Gibbs and backup Sione Vaki forcing five missed tackles in the fourth quarter alone. Sports Illustrated had Vaki at 11 carries for 65 yards.

Lions injury report: a rough day on defense

Campbell wasn’t the only one hurt. Sports Illustrated reported that center Cade Mays (ankle), safety Brian Branch (concussion protocol) and defensive end D.J. Wonnum (concussion protocol) all left in the second quarter. Wonnum was ruled out at halftime. FOX Sports said Reed also left late, meaning four defensive starters exited.

NFC North standings and what’s next

Detroit is now 5-2, and Minnesota is 6-1. FOX Sports noted the win moves the Lions within a game of the Vikings in the division and gives them the tiebreaker. Detroit plays at Miami next. Minnesota hosts Buffalo, then faces the Packers and 49ers.

For Minnesota, the loss raised more questions about Murray. FOX Sports pointed to his accuracy problems and visible frustration from Justin Jefferson, though it said a quarterback change is probably premature before the Nov. 10 trade deadline.