Minnesota Vikings

Vikings S Exum thought his life was 'on the line' while playing hurt

Published Dec. 15, 2015 3:18 p.m. ET

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Minnesota Viking safety Antone Exum proved his toughness by playing through rib and shoulder injuries during a 38-7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 13. Exum did not remove himself from the game because the Vikings were out of healthy safeties.

The pain was so intense that the second-year pro wondered if he was going to die on the field.

Via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press:

After the game, Exum was diagnosed with a fractured rib and an injured AC joint in his shoulder. The Vikings placed him on injured reserve a couple days later, ending his season with four games to go.

I was feeling a pain in my chest with every breath and motion. It was scary becaue I didn’t know what it was. Thoughts went through my head, ‘I could die out there,’ just for the simple fact that I didn’t know what the problem was. But I knew we didn’t have anyone else dressed that was a safety.

I knew that the way I compete sticks to a code of never giving up. I knew that it means a lot to the guys next to me. Therefore, I couldn’t come out.

...

I know I didn’t play my best game, and that hurts me because I left it all on the field from an effort standpoint, and we came up short. But I’m a warrior and made a choice to keep playing when I thought my life could have possibly been on the line. That I can live with.

Although he was playing through severe pain, Exum managed to record a career-high five tackles (all solo) and a forced fumble in the blowout loss to the Seahawks.