Injury Likely Ends Brown’s Career Surgery Monday Fused Vertebra In Neck Of Detroit Lions Linebacker

Detroit Lions linebacker Reggie Brown had neck surgery Monday for a spinal injury that apparently will end his football career.

Dr. Robert Collon, a team physician, said the operation would fuse the first and second vertebra of Browns’ neck, which he injured while making a tackle in Sunday’s game. Brown will wear a neck brace known as a halo for three months.

“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.”

Collon was asked if Brown’s career was over.

“I guess you could make that supposition,” Collon said.

Brown, 23, who was carried off the Silverdome field in an ambulance, regained consciousness at a Pontiac hospital, Collon said. After 45 minutes, Brown was transported to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

Lions coach Bobby Ross said he visited with Brown briefly Monday. “Reggie was very happy that we won the game,” Ross said. “It wasn’t a long conversation.”

With the victory, the Lions captured a spot in the playoffs, but the celebration was tempered by the injury that caused the raucous Silverdome to fall almost silent. Brown’s injury in the fourth quarter delayed play for 17 minutes as medical personnel worked to revive him.

Another team physician, Dr. Terry Lock, and trainer Kent Falb were among the first to reach Brown. Lock said Brown appeared to be turning blue and he gave Brown mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

“Initially, he was having trouble breathing,” Lock said. “We wondered if he had swallowed his mouth piece. But he doesn’t wear a mouth piece. So we began mouth-to-mouth.”

Collon said the handling by the staff on the field was excellent. “Wrong moves could have been fatal,” he said.

Players on both teams prayed as Brown was treated, and as he was about to be driven off the field in an ambulance each team huddled in prayer. Some players had tears in their eyes.

“I think they did a remarkable job of keeping their focus,” Ross said. “But I think it was hard on both teams. it bothered the Jets, too. You could see that in their faces.”