Lions' Follett Hospitalized On Kickoff

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Detroit Lions linebacker Zack Follett was hospitalized after a violent helmet-to-helmet hit with a Giants player while covering a fourth-quarter kickoff return.

Lions coach Jim Schwartz said Follett was conscious and has movement in his limbs.

Detroit also lost starting quarterback Shaun Hill in the 28-20 loss to the New York Giants. He broke his left arm late in the first half and spent part of the second half on the sideline with his arm in a sling.

Follett's injury was scary. He lay on the field for about five minutes while attended by medical personnel from both teams. A backboard was placed under his back, he was placed on a stretcher and carted off the field.

"We've heard from the hospital," said Schwartz, who did not say to which hospital Follett was taken.

"Zach Follett is getting some tests right now. We don't have any results but he does have feeling in his extremities. He was getting some of that before he left the field. There are still a lot of things that we need to test. Let's keep him in our prayers. I'm not sure if he's going to travel back with the team."

Players on both teams took a knee after the play, which happened in roughly the same spot where Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand suffered a spinal cord injury in a game against Army on Saturday.

Follett made head to head contact with Jason Pierre-Paul on the play on which he was injured.

"I knew right away he was hurt," Pierre-Paul said.

Hill was hit by Giants defensive tackle Barry Cofield on an incomplete pass to Kevin Smith. He immediately left the field and was replaced by Drew Stanton, who started the second half.

"Shaun Hill has a fracture in his forearm, his non-throwing arm," Schwartz said. "He wanted to go back in but he had a hard time, no matter how we splinted it, trying to take a snap."

The Lions almost needed No. 3 quarterback Matthew Stafford late in the game when Stanton was dinged. Stafford jogged on the field, but Stanton motioned that he was OK.

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