Detroit Lions punter Sam Martin fine after precautionary hospital visit, plans to play vs. Panthers

Detroit Lions punter Sam Martin was taken to the hospital after Sunday’s night game against the Chicago Bears, but, thankfully, it appears everything that was checked out came out positive. Martin told the media on Monday that the trip to the hospital was precautionary and he is fully planning on playing this week against the Carolina Panthers.

“I’m fine, I’ll be playing on Sunday,” Martin said.

The Lions punter was hesitant to go into details, avoiding questions about whether he was coughing up blood, and often turning to the team’s director of football communications for guidance on an answer, but eventually he provided a little insight into what happened.

“I got blocked on that return when I was covering, someone hit me,” Martin said.

That someone was Bears receiver Joshua Bellamy, who blindside blocked Martin during a third quarter punt. Here’s a look at what happened.

Martin finished out the game, and while he said he was suffering from some shortness of breath, it didn’t affect his performance after the play.

“I was good to finish the game, so I finished the game,” Martin said. “If I wasn’t good to finish the game, I wouldn’t have but I felt good to finish the game so I finished the game. No affecting on my kicking.”

Martin had one more punt after the injury—a 37-yard kick that bounced well in front of Bears returner Tarik Cohen and gave Chicago the ball at midfield. The Lions punter suggested this was by design to keep the ball out of Cohen’s hands.