GREEN BAY — Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley is reportedly in the intensive care unit of an area hospital following the neck injury he suffered during Sunday's victory over the Cleveland Browns, but another report said Finley's ICU stay is only "precautionary."
ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported Monday morning that Finley was in ICU and had "not had surgery," adding that Finley's status was "uncertain."
Shortly thereafter, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Finley spending the night in the hospital was "precautionary" and that the 26-year-old is "going to be fine."
Finley was injured with 10 minutes 28 seconds left in the game. He had just caught a 10-yard pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers when Browns safety Tashaun Gipson hit him in the head and neck area as Finley ducked down after making the catch.
Finley was motionless on the field, lying on his side, as the Packers' medical staff tended to him. Finley was down for roughly 6 minutes before leaving the field on a gurney, having had the facemask removed from his helmet and his head immobilized. He could be seen moving his hands as he departed.
Gipson was penalized 15 yards for a personal foul for "leading with the helmet," according to referee Jeff Triplette, although it did not appear to be a dirty play. After the hit, Finley fell face first to the Lambeau Field turf, and his head appeared to shake.
After team physicians Dr. Patrick McKenzie and Dr. John Gray attended to him, Finley was placed on a backboard, had his head immobilized with a belt across the top of his helmet and was wheeled off the field on the gurney as his teammates, including Quarless, Rodgers, guard Josh Sitton, center Evan Dietrich-Smith and wide receiver Jordy Nelson looked on.
This marked the second time Finley has suffered a frightening blow-to-the-head injury this season. At Cincinnati on Sept. 22, Finley was hit by Bengals safety George Iloka as he caught a pass down the seam and got up woozily before falling back to the turf. He was diagnosed with a concussion and missed the remainder of that game.
Jason Wilde wrote: