Jermichael Finley has said that he plans to play in the NFL again once he overcomes his neck injury.
The Green Bay Packers tight end spent four days in hospital, including one in intensive care, after sustaining a spinal cord contusion during the 31-13 win over the Cleveland Browns earlier this month.
The 26-year-old told Sports Illustrated: "Of course I plan to play football again. This is what I love to do. I love the game. I love Sundays. Based on the feedback I've received from doctors at this point, the question is not if I'll play again, but when.
"I am confident that I will be part of a new case study of players who returned to football successfully after suffering neck and head trauma. Just like we see every year with ACL recovery, anything is possible when you combine drive and commitment with a tremendous support system and team, and amazing advances in science and medicine.
"I was very conscious, but I could not move. I looked at my teammate Andrew Quarless directly in the eye and whispered, 'Help me, Q. I can't move. I can't breathe'. The scariest moment was seeing the fear in Q's eyes. I knew something was wrong, but his reaction verified it. That really shook me up."
Finley has 300 receiving yards and three touchdowns so far this season.
Sian Cowper
