Texans' Killings has neck fracture, but should walk again
HOUSTON -- Houston Texans defensive tackle Cedric Killings was able to stand in the hospital on Monday and doctors are confident he'll soon be walking.
Killings' progress came one day after he left the field on a stretcher after a headfirst collision with Indianapolis receiver Roy Hall.
Killings fractured his C-4 vertebra and was unable to move any of his limbs for a time on the field on Sunday, said Dr. Rob Parrish, a neurosurgeon working with Killings. He has since gained movement in his arms and legs, though he's weak in both hands and his left arm.
"He stood for me this morning at the bed side," Parrish said. "So I think he'll walk out of the hospital. That's very good. We were all applauding."
Parrish said the biggest concern now is the weakness in Killings' left arm, but that it was too soon to tell if it would be permanent.
"That's his deficit right now," Parrish said. "It might all come back."
Parrish said the injury was similar to the one sustained by Buffalo tight end Kevin Everett in the Bills' season-opener. While Everett's spinal cord injury was considered life-threatening, he is making a strong recovery and doctors expect that he also will walk again.
After the hit, Killings lay motionless as trainers attended to him, and coaches and players watched while he was strapped to a stretcher.
Texans team physician Dr. Walter Lowe said it is too soon to know whether Killings will play football again.
"He's still in the process of recovering," Lowe said.
The 30-year-old Killings was cut by the Texans on Sept. 1, then re-signed two weeks later to add depth to the defensive line when Travis Johnson injured his ankle.
Killings should walk again
Killings should walk again
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