Serious Spinal Injury in Week 1

[NJTank]

With all the fun of Week 1, there was a scary moment in Buffalo as Kevin Everett suffered a serious injury. At last report he was having emergency spinal surgery. Hopefully he will be ok and walk again, but it certainly put a damper on a close exciting game in Buffalo.

[sacker12]

Yes, I do pray that he will recover from his injury.

[BigMac12]

I saw it. It got scary after he didn't get up. I pray for the player, family and the Bills.

[KevinMcD]

He had surgery overnight and is now in ICU. His agent said he has had some movement, which is a good sign. There is another press conference at 4:30 today.

He is not a lucky guy. He had a knee injury in college, missed most of last year with another knee injury, and now this. Hopefully he will recover, and have full movement of his limbs, I seriously doubt he ever plays football again.

[sigma716]

Even worse than had earlier expected:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3012739

Updated: September 10, 2007, 6:09 PM ET

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills' Kevin Everett sustained a "catastrophic" and life-threatening spinal-cord injury and his chances of regaining a full range of body motion are very small, an orthopedic surgeon said Monday.

"A best-case scenario is full recovery, but not likely," Dr. Andrew Cappuccino said, one day after performing a four-hour operation on the player. "I believe there will be some permanent neurological paralysis. ... A full neurological recovery was bleak, dismal."

Cappuccino noted the 25-year-old reserve tight end did have touch sensation throughout his body and also showed signs of movement. But he cautioned that Everett's injury remained life-threatening, saying the player is still susceptible to blood clots, infection and breathing failure.

Everett is currently under forced sedation and breathing through a respirator as doctors wait for the swelling to lessen. Cappuccino said it will take up to three days to determine the severity of the injury and the recovery process.

During the operation, Cappuccino repaired a break between the third and fourth vertebrae and also alleviated the pressure on the spinal cord. The process included a bone graft and the insertion of a plate and four screws.

Cappuccino said Everett was alert and is aware of the extent of his injuries.

"I was honest with him, and he told me, 'Do everything you can to help me,' " said Cappuccino, who works for the Bills as a consultant, specializing in spinal surgery.

Cappuccino received permission to operate from Everett's mother, Patricia Dugas, who spoke by phone from her home in Houston. Everett was born in Port Arthur, Texas.

Everett was hurt in Buffalo's season opener against Denver on Sunday when he ducked his head while driving in to tackle Broncos' Domenik Hixon during the second-half opening kickoff. Everett dropped face first to the ground after his helmet hit Hixon high on the left shoulder and side of the helmet.

Replays showed the player twitching for a few seconds as he attempted to get up before falling back to the ground. Everett's eyes were open but he showed no further signs of movement during the next 15 minutes as the team's medical staff and emergency personnel placed him on a backboard and, with the player's head and body immobilized, loaded him into an ambulance at the Broncos 30.

Bills team doctor John Marzo said Everett was alert from the time he was loaded onto the backboard and throughout the drive to the hospital.

"It's a tough situation to watch because he's somebody's son, brother and friend," punter Brian Moorman said Monday. "It's all you could think about during the game, after it happened, after the game and this morning. And we just want him to get better, we want him to heal."

Quarterback J.P. Losman said it was difficult to concentrate during practice.

"It seems like every couple of seconds that go by it's always popping into your head," Losman said. "Going through a walk-through, we're looking for him, wanting to hear his voice."

The Bills have Tuesday off before returning to practice to prepare to play at Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Coach Dick Jauron said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell called him Sunday evening, offering the league's support.

"We honor ourselves by our work, and we honor Kevin by moving forward and working while never forgetting Kevin and never getting him out of our thoughts and prayers," Jauron said. "We're going to wait and see what the outcome is here and we're really hoping and praying for the best."

Buffalo's 2005 third-round draft pick out of Miami, Everett missed his rookie season because of a knee injury. He spent most of last year playing special teams. He was hoping to make an impact as a receiver.

His injury recalled the one to Mike Utley, the former Detroit Lions guard who was paralyzed below the chest. He injured his neck in a collision during a 1991 game.

"I'm sorry this young man got hurt," Utley told the AP. "It wasn't a cheap shot. It was a great form tackle and that's it."

The 41-year-old Utley now lives in Washington state and is promoting a bike tour aimed at raising money in an effort to cure paralysis.

"These are big strong men competing at the highest level. You can do everything to prepare yourself -- lift weights and all that," Utley said. "But is it going to happen again? Yes."

Everett's injury was not the only one sustained by the Bills.

Cornerback Jason Webster (broken forearm) and free safety Ko Simpson (broken ankle) had surgery, and Jauron said both could miss the rest of the season. Also, linebacker Coy Wire has a sprained knee and is out indefinitely.

[NJTank]

Yikes that is scary, but they said Dennis Byrd would never walk again and he did so there can always be a miracle.

[Eye]

Horrible. Just horrible. I pray for Kevin Everett and his family. A miracle is what we need.

[habsfan1]

His career is guarenteed to be over, imo. Lets just hope he doesn't die.

[-(dp)-]

Well, there is now some good news. He has now voluntarily moved both his arms and legs, and from what the doctors said, he is likely to be able to walk again. I don't have a link, because I just saw it on PTI. This is great news, since a day ago they didn't think he would walk again. I am hoping for the best for him.

[Jimmy!]

link

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3014742

[NJTank]

Wow that is some better news, its amazing how these football tragedies could be benefits to the medical word.

Nick Buoniconti's son gets Paralyzed he starts the Miami Project, who is doing great work in spinal research.

Dennis Byrd gets injured undergoes experimentally procedures and walks again.

Now this perhaps this freeze solution could do allot of good in the future especially if Kevin Edwards walks again like Dennis Byrd.

[KevinMcD]

Wow that is some better news, its amazing how these football tragedies could be benefits to the medical word.

Nick Buoniconti's son gets Paralyzed he starts the Miami Project, who is doing great work in spinal research.

Dennis Byrd gets injured undergoes experimentally procedures and walks again.

Now this perhaps this freeze solution could do allot of good in the future especially if Kevin Edwards walks again like Dennis Byrd.

Who????

The news that broke today is some great news. As of yesterday he would have been lucky to live, and today there is a good chance that he will walk again, hopefully he and his family pull through strong.

[DEAD!]

Kevin Edwards

Who????

[NJTank]

D'oh

Is it my fault hes not famous Kevin Everett

[Viper]

ESPNews has reported that Everett is now wiggling his toes and breathing on his own. He's a long way from walking but it looks like he's going to make it. Three cheers for Everett and his doctors.

[NJTank]

I think it will be great if before the season is over Everett can walk on the field and flip the coin before a game. Without a doubt the last few days have brought great news.

[Audiodrama]

I think it will be great if before the season is over Everett can walk on the field and flip the coin before a game. Without a doubt the last few days have brought great news.

Not sure how realistic it is, but I would love to see it as well.

One of the anchors on SportsCenter said it perfectly this evening -- pushing Frank Reich aside, *this* would be the greatest comeback in Bills history. Let's hope the positive recovery continues.

[GFB]

I don't remember anything this scary since seeing Reggie Brown lying on the Silverdome turf paralyzed, the same game Barry Sanders went over 2000 yards. It is a sight that I will never forget and hoped I would never see again.

Detroit has had it's share of scary injuries:

Reggie Brown

Jiri Fisher

Mike Utley

Chuck Hughes

Vladimir Konstantinov

My thoughts and prayers go out to Everett and his family.

[Top Shelf]

UPDATE:

Everett is walking again!

GREAT NEWS!!!

[DDR]

UPDATE:

Everett is walking again!

GREAT NEWS!!!

That's awesome. Good for him.