A day after he was wheeled off of Lambeau Field on a stretcher, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver remains hospitalized with a severe neck sprain, but is expected to be released Tuesday morning, GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman said in his Monday press conference.
Driver was injured Sunday in the fourth quarter of the Packers' regular-season opener against the Minnesota Vikings when he landed headfirst on the turf after leaving his feet to catch a Brett Favre pass.
Although head trainer Pepper Burruss said Driver never lost consciousness or experienced paralysis, the wide receiver lay motionless on the field for several minutes while being tended to by members of the Packers' medical staff, who took every precaution in treating the injury.
The good news is that after an especially awkward fall, Driver's injury isn't as devastating as it may have initially appeared.
As of Monday morning, Sherman said Driver had movement in his extremities and that his vital signs were "fine." Driver did experience a bout of nausea during the night -- which Sherman said might have been symptomatic of a concussion -- but is in considerably positive condition.
The bad news at this point is that it's still uncertain when Driver may be able to return to the football field.
"It's too early to tell right now," Sherman said. "I doubt very much this week, but we'll have to wait and see."
Driver's injury is not expected to be season-ending.
A seventh-round draft pick in 1999, Driver is coming off a Pro Bowl season in which he led the team with 70 receptions for 1,064 yards and 9 touchdowns.
