Though the early indications look decent, Jeremy Thompson won't know for a couple of weeks whether his recent neck injury could end his NFL career.
The second-year pro and outside linebacker suffered an injury to a nerve in his neck last week in practice that caused numbness and burning in both arms. The incident was scary enough that he was taken from practice in an ambulance and required a night's stay in a hospital.
The Packers' medical staff has reviewed an MRI and X-ray of his neck and told him there was no damage to the bones, ligaments and tendons in his neck, which bodes well for continuing his career. However, he's scheduled to undergo another MRI and X-ray in about two weeks and also visit specialists in Charlotte and Chicago to see whether he sustained any long-term damage to the impinged nerve.
"Hopefully there are none," Thompson said of the risks of continuing playing. "Thats what Im going to find out, Im seeking some second opinions. If there is something lingering then I probably wont be able to play anymore, but if everything clears out fine then there wont be any more risk."
Thompson said most of the numbness and soreness in his neck and arms has subsided. He still has some stiffness in his neck but no appreciable ligament or tendon damage.