Story perspectives

Rehab Return After C6-C7 Injury Sparks Recovery Hope

By Drooid · Sep 17, 2026, 3:04 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Ryan Lasko left a New Jersey rehab facility and returned home.
He fractured C6-C7 vertebrae in a June 30 collision with teammate Devin Taylor.
He underwent spinal decompression and stabilization surgery on July 1 in Plano, Texas.
He now feels sensation from his feet to knees, thighs, hamstrings, and back.
Doctors say he could fully recover and walk again, but no timetable is set.

History

Historical Context

In 2005, NFL tight end Kevin Everett suffered a C5-C6 spinal fracture during a game, prompting emergency surgery and a high-profile recovery effort. The New York Giants, Dr. James Andrews, and the NFL Players Association contributed $1.5 million toward his rehabilitation, achieving 70 percent neurological improvement within six months. Everett’s gradual return to walking mirrors Ryan Lasko’s recent postoperative progress after his June 30 collision and July 1 surgery in Plano, Texas. Both cases underscore the NFL’s evolving medical protocols and the critical role of advanced spinal stabilization techniques in preserving athletes’ long-term mobility.

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Story summary

Ryan Lasko left a New Jersey rehab facility and returned home.
He fractured C6-C7 vertebrae in a June 30 collision with teammate Devin Taylor.
He underwent spinal decompression and stabilization surgery on July 1 in Plano, Texas.
He now feels sensation from his feet to knees, thighs, hamstrings, and back.
Doctors say he could fully recover and walk again, but no timetable is set.

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