Chicago tight end Zach Miller is not "out of the woods" but has undergone successful surgery to repair a torn artery in his left leg suffered during the Bears' 20-12 defeat to the New Orleans Saints.
Miller badly injured his knee after landing awkwardly while attempting to take a touchdown pass in the third quarter and was immediately taken to a New Orleans hospital on Sunday.
It was reported that the 33-year-old was at risk of having his leg amputated but a vascular operation that included grafting tissue from his right leg has stabilised the injury.
The Bears said on their official website: "During our game at the New Orleans Saints yesterday, TE Zach Miller sustained a serious injury to his left knee and immediate evaluation from our medical team on site rushed him to nearby University Medical Center New Orleans (UMC) for urgent vascular surgery to repair a torn popliteal artery.
"Successful surgery was performed immediately on Sunday by the UMC vascular surgeons to stabilize his injury. Zach remains at UMC, along with Bears medical personnel, where he will stay under further evaluation. We are thinking of Zach and his family and support from our entire organization goes out to them."
Chicago head coach John Fox said the former Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers player was "in good spirits" after speaking to him on the phone on Monday.
Fox added: "He's got good pulse in his lower leg as well as good feeling. His foot is warm which is a good sign.
"I'm not saying he's out of the woods by any stretch but it's as good as can be expected at this point."