National Football League

Bills' Brooks stays in hospital after neck injury

Published Oct. 5, 2014 1:39 p.m. ET

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DETROIT (AP) Bills cornerback Ron Brooks is being held overnight in a Detroit hospital for evaluation for a neck injury sustained in a frightening collision during a punt return against the Lions on Sunday.

The team announced the decision without providing an update on Brooks' status following a 17-14 win over the Lions.

Brooks waved his left hand after being placed on a spinal stabilization board and carted off the field midway through the first quarter. He was then transported to the hospital.

Brooks was hurt when colliding with Detroit's Jerome Couplin. Couplin was attempting to block another Bills player and stumbled, hitting Brooks low. Brooks went flying into the air, spun upside down and landed directly on his head.

The game was delayed for about 10 minutes while trainers attended to Brooks at the Lions 40. The player lay motionless on the field, and medical staff were careful in turning Brooks over before placing him on the board.

Lions receiver Calvin Johnson aggravated an ankle injury in the first minute of the third quarter, and running back Reggie Bush did not return after hurting his ankle early in the fourth quarter.

Coach Jim Caldwell said Johnson is still being evaluated.

''I won't be certain if it's a long-term issue, but he did take a pretty good whack,'' Caldwell said.

Johnson was hurt when he reached down to make a 7-yard catch and was immediately hit low by cornerback Leodis McKelvin. Johnson clutched his right ankle and was briefly treated on the field. He then got up on his own and slowly walked off the field.

Johnson spent the Lions next possession watching on one knee from the sideline before being escorted to the locker room.

Bush provided a mixed response following the game when asked how he feels.

''I don't know. I feel good, but we'll see,'' said Bush. ''I'll need to speak to the doctors and trainers, and we'll take the necessary precautions to do whatever I need to go to get healthy for this week.''

The Lions entered the game already missing running backs Joique Bell (concussion) and Theo Riddick (hamstring).

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