Lewis Cine, a rookie safety for the Minnesota Vikings, will have surgery in London to repair a fractured left leg.
Cine was hurt while playing against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Cine won't leave the UK until doctors say it's okay for him to take a flight back to Minnesota.
O'Connell, the Vikings coach, held back tears as he revealed Cine's injury's specifics.
With 1:08 left in the first quarter of the Vikings' 28-25 victory, the injury occurred.
Cine's leg bent awkwardly while blocking on a punt return on the artificial turf field at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which is used for NFL games instead of grass.
Cine was brought off the field on a trolley and promptly given an air cast.
Cine, a first-round choice by the Vikings this year, was hindered by a knee injury during training camp and the beginning of the season.
Cine had only participated in two defensive plays in addition to his special teams duties.