HOUSTON, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Veteran defensive back Leomont Evans of the expansion Houston Texans returned to Texas late Wednesday morning, two days after suffering a frightening injury that left him paralyzed briefly.
Evans was carried off the field during the Hall of Fame Game against the New York Giants Monday night after bruising his spinal cord. Although he had no feeling in his arms and legs when he arrived at Aultman Hospital in Canton, Ohio, he slowly regained sensation in his limbs and was able to walk by Tuesday morning.
He was transferred to Methodist Hospital in Houston Wednesday and will undergo further tests.
A team spokesman said Evans would remain hospitalized, "for a couple of days."
Evans met with reporters Wednesday at Methodist, standing at a podium just 44 hours after he thought he might never walk again.
"I'm feeling pretty good compared to Monday," Evans said. "It was just a play, like any other play. After watching it, I saw that my head was down and I bent my neck a little bit and that's about all I remember. The next thing I knew I was in the emergency room."
Even after all he's been through, Evans still hopes to continue his football career.
"I just asking God to help me move my body at first. Then I thought about my family, my kids, all kind of things go through your mind when something like that happens. You thinking if you're going to be able to play with your kids again, pick them up or there's a chance you might be a vegetable. It took awhile to get the feeling back in my body. Right now, I'm still in a lot of pain from my neck down to my back. (But) If everything's fine, I'll be out there again."
Team internist Dr. James Muntz said Evans will remain at Methodist for a few more days.
"He'll get seen here by the orthopedic staff, (team physician) Dr. (Walter) Lowe's crew and we'll get an independent opinion from a neurosurgeon," Muntz said. "One, to see what kind of muscle function or sensory changes persist and secondly, to evaluate his spinal canal and explain things again to him, his family, the team and the owners. He's extremely lucky."
The Washington Redskins drafted Evans in the fifth round out of Clemson in 1996. He started all 16 regular-season games with the Redskins in 1999, was cut by Detroit in 2000, and played last year in the XFL. He was signed by the Texans as a free agent in December.
The Texans also said that right tackle Ryan Young will undergo groin surgery Thursday and miss 4-8 weeks.
Young, plucked from the New York Jets in the expansion draft, was expected to anchor the right side of the offensive line opposite Tony Boselli, who will miss at least the season opener while recovering from shoulder surgery.
The absence of Boselli and Young would force Jimmy Herndon and rookie Chester Pitts into the starting lineup.
