JJ Russell injury update: Cardinals LB transported to hospital after scary collision in practice

The Arizona Cardinals announced linebacker JJ Russell is being evaluated for a head and neck injury suffered during a scary collision at training camp on Thursday. He was alert on the field and had movement in all of his extremities.

The Cardinals also said that Russell was taken to a local hospital for further testing. Before the former Memphis star exited the field, the entire team huddled around him, and Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon ended practice.

Scary scene at #CardsCamp. LB JJ Russell had to be stretchered off the field after a collision. The entire team huddled around him. JG called practice right after. @12SportsAZ pic.twitter.com/CSTLSJurCC

— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) July 24, 2025

JJ Russell collided with safety Kitan Crawford and spent a few minutes on the ground. As he was carted off the field, all the players showed their support. Thursday’s practice was the first open training camp practice for the Cardinals.

Russell signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals in May. He spent the last three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and played in 30 regular-season games. Last year, Russell played in 16 games with three starts and tallied 33 tackles and two passes defended.

More on JJ Ruseell and the Arizona Cardinals

Before entering the NFL, Russell was a standout linebacker at Memphis. In 2021, Russell led the team in tackles with 123 and also recorded 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and eight quarterback hurries. He was selected to the First Team All-AAC for his on-field production during the 2021 season.

Russell looks to help a Cardinals team that missed the playoffs for the third consecutive year. After starting 2024 with a 6-4 record, Arizona struggled to get things going coming out of the bye week and lost the final five of seven games.

Bill Barnwell of ESPN said Gannon is one of the coaches facing the most pressure this season. In a story for ESPN, Barnewell wrote: “After going 12-22 — admittedly without Kyler Murray for the first half of 2023 — Gannon has the chance to take a step forward. If he gets things right, he can probably count on a contract extension from an ownership group that has been extremely generous to its coaches in the past. If the defense struggles, though, he could be on the hot seat or out of a job after a third consecutive losing season.”

This story is developing.