Detroit Lions lineman Mike Utley remains paralyzed from a neck injury, and doctors say it probably will be at least until Wednesday before they can determine if the paralysis is permanent.
Either way, doctors said, Utley's NFL career likely is finished.Utley, 25, was hurt in a freak accident while pass-blocking in the Lions' 21-10 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
Utley was in stable condition Monday after 21/2 hours of surgery for a ruptured disk, said Dr. Phillip Mayer, chief of spinal injuries in Henry Ford Hospital's orthopedic department.
The 6-foot-6, 290-pound guard fractured his sixth cervical vertebra and sustained an "extensive soft tissue injury" on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Utley has had some movement but is "quite weak," the surgeon said. Mayer said he wouldn't know if Utley will be permanently paralyzed for at least 48 hours.
"It was a very severe injury to his spinal cord," Mayer said at a news conference. When asked whether Utley's professional football career was over, Mayer said: "In all probability, yes."
The injury occurred when Utley was blocking David Rocker of the Rams on Erik Kramer's 11-yard touchdown pass to Robert Clark. Utley subsequently lost his balance and fell forward. He extended his arms out to break the fall, but instead landed on the top of his head, snapping it back on contact.