Former Detroit Lion, Mike Utley, who was paralyzed nearly twenty years ago during a game, attended Lions training camp Friday.
Utley, the Lions starting right guard from 1989-1991, was in Allen Park Friday supporting his former team.
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Utley was paralyzed on November 17, 1991 in a game against the Los Angeles Rams- ending his career. He suffered an injury to his sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae making him, by definition of the injury, a quadriplegic. However, Utley maintained the use of his upper extremities making him, functionally, a paraplegic.
Utley was drafted by the Lions in the third round of the 1989 NFL Draft. In his rookie season, Utley started the first five games at right guard before being injured. In his second season, Utely was plagued by injury, fracturing two of his ribs and dislocating his shoulder. Once healthy, Utley managed to play in the second half of the season.
Coming from his home in Washington state, the former guard was on the sidelines of the Lions Friday practice taking the opportunity to talk to current players.
Utley and his agent, Bruce Allen, founded the Mike Utley Foundation, which was created in 1991 to help seek the cure of paralysis.
For more information visit: MikeUtley.org