There is a concerning injury situation developing in Detroit.
Lions linebacker Jack Campbell has been carted off the field on a backboard after going down while making a tackle early in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against the Vikings.
Campbell stayed down on the ground and did not move after twisting down T.J. Hockenson on a 10-yard gain.
Medical personnel immediately tended to Campbell. Members of both the Lions and Vikings took a knee as Campbell was being taken care of. He was immobilized on a backboard with Lions players coming over to him as he was taken off the field.
Some Lions players, including edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, were visibly emotional on the Fox broadcast.
Detroit leads Minnesota 12-7 early in the fourth quarter.
UPDATE 3:58 p.m. ET: Detroit announced Campbell has been transported to a local hospital to be evaluated for a neck injury.
The Lions have taken a second-half lead over the Vikings.
Jahmyr Gibbs put the ball in the box on an outstanding 30-yard run for a touchdown, giving Detroit a 12-7 advantage with 4:40 left in the third quarter.
Gibbs took a pitch in the backfield and ran it up the middle, evading defenders to the left sideline before powering his way past the goal line for the score.
Quarterback Jared Goff was down the field to help out Gibbs with a block just before he reached the end zone.
That run gave Gibbs 90 yards on 17 carries with a TD. He’s also caught a couple of passes for 15 yards.
The Lions went for two to potentially increase the leas to seven points, but didn’t get it on a run with Gibbs. After Gibbs had just exhausted himself on the run, it was a questionable use of personnel and play-calling.
On the injury front, Lions center Cade Mays (ankle) and Lions running back Jacob Saylors (neck) have both been downgraded to out.
The Lions will have to play the rest of Sunday’s game against the Vikings without two key defenders.
Edge rusher DJ Wonnum and defensive back Brian Branch have both been ruled out for the rest of the contest with concussions.
The two players collided in the second quarter when they were trying to tackle receiver Justin Jefferson.
It was a direct helmet-to-helmet hit for both players.
The Lions are down 7-6 to the Vikings early in the third quarter.
It’s been a heavyweight battle between NFC North foes in Detroit through 30 minutes, with the Vikings clinging to a 7-6 lead at halftime.
Detroit has gotten two field goals from Jake Bates, one from 25 yards and another from 37 yards late in the second quarter to narrow Minnesota’s lead to one point.
Justin Jefferson caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Kyler Murray early in the second quarter for Minnesota’s only points.
The Vikings had a chance to score more, but Will Reichard missed a 57-yard field goal wide right in the first quarter.
While Jefferson leads the Vikings with eight targets, he’s only been able to catch four passes for 25 yards with a TD. Murray is 7-of-15 for 86 yards with a touchdown and a pick. He also leads the Vikings with 26 yards on three carries.
On the other side, Jared Goff tossed his first interception of the season when Jameson Williams fell down on a route. The quarterback is 11-of-16 for 110 yards against Minnesota’s vaunted defense so far on Sunday.
Jahmyr Gibbs has 37 yards on 11 carries.
Lions edge rusher DJ Wonnum and defensive back Brian Branch are both being evaluated for concussions after colliding while trying to tackle Jefferson in the second quarter.
After scoring late in the second quarter, the Lions will have a chance to double up as they will receive the second-half kickoff.
Two Lions collided late in the second quarter and both had to be taken off the field.
Edge rusher DJ Wonnum was carted off after he and defensive back Brian Branch hit each other helmet-to-helmet while trying to bring down receiver Justin Jefferson on a catch.
Branch was able to walk off the field, but went to the locker room for further examination.
The Lions have a couple of other injury issues from the game against the Vikings so far. Center Cade Mays is questionable to return with an ankle injury. Running back Jacob Saylors is also questionable to return with a neck injury.
The Vikings lead the Lions 7-3 with two minutes remaining in the second quarter.
