Barkevious Mingo has said that he feels "really good" following his two-night stay in hospital with a bruised lung.
The Cleveland Browns linebacker was left spitting up blood on the sideline after sustaining the injury during the team's pre-season win over the Detroit Lions last week.
The 22-year-old told the Cleveland Plain Dealer: "I'm feeling really good. I'd rather be out there, but I've got to listen to the doctors and take it slow and easy.
"I was like this when I was in the hospital that night and I told them I was fine. But they've got to get the scans and they made the right call."
Mingo, who was a first-round pick in this year's draft, is expected to miss the rest of the pre-season while recovering from the injury.