The National
Spinal Cord
Injury Association

Disability in the News.

Arena Football Player Injures Spine.

Associated Press ALBANY, N.Y. -- An Albany Firebirds defensive specialist injured his spine Monday night when he tried to make a tackle during an Arena Football League game against the Arizona Rattlers.

Carlton Johnson was in the middle of a pile when he was hit by Arizona's Brian Easter. Easter's helmet struck Johnson in the left side of his head and left shoulder.

Johnson was down for about 10 minutes during the first play of the third quarter in the game televised on ESPN2. Team doctor Joe Marotta told the Times Union of Albany that Johnson suffered a spinal injury. He lost consciousness briefly and couldn't feel his arms and legs.

However, after being taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital, Johnson regained feeling in his extremities and preliminary X-rays were negative. He was expected to be examined further by a neurosurgeon.

Tuesday morning, a hospital spokesman said Johnson was in good condition and was expected to be released later in the day.

"He's one of our warriors," Albany lineman Kyle Moore-Brown said of Johnson. "You can't take anything away from him. We pray and hope that everything else goes right for him."

Despite the injury, Albany went on to win the game 58-34.  
 

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