Expert: Finley’s unlikely to return to field this year

It has been two days since Jermichael Finley had to be carted off Lambeau Field and experts say while chances of a full recovery are good; his injury would be similar to anyone diving into the shallow end of the pool and hitting the bottom head first.

Finley is walking 48 hours after a hit during the Packers’ Sunday game against the Browns hospitalized him.

Head coach Mike McCarthy had good news for fans the next day.

“He always has a smile on his face and he is focused on what is most important, and that is his health and his family,” said McCarthy.

But what exactly happened on that play?

“When you have that direct impact all those forces are directly transmitted through bones and tissues, and puts an increased risk at fractures that could have catastrophic and neurological consequences,” said Jared Greenberg, an interventional spine specialist at Meriter.

Greenberg said spinal injury patients can never be too cautious since there is no cure for those types of injuries.

“This is what these guys are born to do so anytime you tell a 26-year-old your career is now coming to a close. It’s not an easy conversation. Everyone is worried about his recovery and on to the next steps,” said Greenberg.

Finley did tweet a video of himself walking Tuesday at the hospital saying he will play again this year.

The Packers were off Tuesday but McCarthy should give an update on Finley’s condition when he speaks to the media Wednesday.

While Finely is optimistic, Greenberg said it is unlikely he will return this year. He would be at too great a risk because of his injury from Sunday’s game combined with the multiple concussions he has sustained throughout his career.