Washington Commanders Linebacker Leo Chenal Suffers Season-Ending Broken Neck
Chenal, a former teammate and close friend of Travis Kelce, sustained the injury during a game against the Seattle Seahawks and is undergoing surgery.
Washington Commanders linebacker Leo Chenal will miss the remainder of the season after sustaining a broken neck during Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks. Chenal was taken off the field in a stretcher after a tackle in the second quarter and subsequently hospitalized.
Doctors have determined that Chenal suffered a fracture in his neck. Despite the severity of the injury, he has feeling in all his extremities and is expected to make a full recovery. The linebacker is scheduled for surgery to repair the fractured vertebrae.
Chenal, a fifth-year player formerly with the Wisconsin Badgers, spent four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he won two Super Bowl titles. He developed a close friendship with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce during his time in Kansas City. Chenal signed a three-year, $24.75 million contract with the Commanders this past offseason.
Reports indicate that Chenal's brother shared an update on social media, stating that Leo was stable, able to move his limbs, and showed no immediate signs of nerve damage. He expressed hope for a successful surgery to replace the fractured vertebrae with titanium.
Despite his departure from the Chiefs, Chenal maintained his connection with Kelce, attending his and Taylor Swift's wedding ceremony in the offseason. Chenal described the event as "awesome" and praised Kelce as an "awesome teammate" and friend, and described Swift as "beautifully minded" and "inviting."
During the 2024 season, ESPN's docuseries "The Kingdom" highlighted Chenal's relationship with Kelce. In one instance, Chenal, as a rookie, asked for Kelce's jersey, a request Kelce initially forgot. However, after Chenal blocked a field goal, Kelce gifted him the jersey with a personal message: "Leo! My brother forever. One of the best on and off the gridiron! Love the way you come to work every day. Always grind!!"
Chenal acknowledged Kelce's significance, calling him "a special dude" and an honor to be teammates with and a friend to. He values the memory of receiving the personalized jersey from Kelce.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn confirmed Chenal's condition after the game, stating he was undergoing tests and expressing well wishes. The incident occurred as Chenal appeared to lead with his head while making a tackle on Seahawks running back Emmanuel Wilson.