The Detroit Lions walked away from their Monday night battle against the Baltimore Ravens with a hard-fought victory, but one of the toughest sights came late in the game when their young linebacker took a brutal hit that left him bloodied and in need of medical treatment. What looked like just another cut on the sideline turned out to be severe enough to require plastic surgery.
The injury happened during a pile-up near the line of scrimmage when he collided with a Ravens player. Blood streamed down his face, forcing trainers to quickly cover the wound and patch him up so he could finish the game. True to his reputation, the linebacker insisted on returning to the field, refusing to let pain overshadow his performance.
After the game, doctors determined that stitches alone wouldn’t be enough and that a plastic surgeon was needed to properly repair the damage. It was a serious situation, but the linebacker refused to let it dampen his spirit. Instead, he turned it into a moment of humor.
“They told me I had to see a plastic surgeon, so I guess I’ve got no choice but to start being selfish now,” he joked. “I mean, if my face is getting this kind of attention, I’ve got to protect it, right?”
His playful comment drew laughter in the locker room and later on social media, where fans praised his toughness and sense of humor. Many shared memes of his “new look” and applauded him for brushing off a scary situation with a lighthearted touch.
For Lions head coach Dan Campbell, moments like this highlight the resilience of his team. The Lions have built an identity around grit, toughness, and the ability to laugh in the face of adversity. This injury—and the way his linebacker handled it—embodied that perfectly.
The procedure was successful, and the linebacker is not expected to miss significant time. Still, the coaching staff will keep a close eye on his recovery before throwing him back into full-contact action.
One thing is certain: his determination to keep playing, paired with his ability to crack a joke after surgery, only strengthens his bond with Detroit fans. Blood, stitches, and even a trip to the plastic surgeon couldn’t shake him—and now, he’s wearing his battle scars with pride.
