Ron Brooks suffers neck injury

— -- DETROIT -- Buffalo Bills cornerback Ron Brooks was carted off the field in the first quarter of Sunday's game against the Lions after suffering a neck injury.

Brooks was running downfield to cover a Bills punt when he was hit in his lower body by Lions safety Jerome Couplin. Brooks landed directly on his helmet after the hit.

Trainers and EMS attended to Brooks as the game was stopped for several minutes. After Brooks was immobilized on a backboard, he waved to the crowd before being taken to the locker room.

The Bills announced that Brooks has been taken to a hospital for further evaluation.

Brooks, 25, has played in each game this season a reserve, tallying six tackles. He was a fourth-round pick of the Bills in 2012.

Couplin, who was also injured on that play, walked off the field under his own power.