Everett arrives at Houston hospital to continue recovery

HOUSTON -- Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett returned to his native Texas on Friday to be closer to his family for the next phase of his recovery from a life-threatening spinal cord injury.

"Kevin's trip went pretty good. He stayed awake the entire time. He's fine," Eric Armstead, a partner of Everett's agent, Brian Overstreet, told The Associated Press. "He's doing well and he's resting. That's the news: He's resting."

Accompanied by his mother and girlfriend, Everett was transferred by private plane from Buffalo to Houston's Memorial Hermann hospital, which provides medical rehabilitation for patients of catastrophic trauma such as brain or spinal cord injuries.

Armstead said Everett continues to breathe on his own and is not connected to any devices save for one intravenous drip. He also said Everett was pleased to meet with close family, including his three younger sisters, and friends who were unable to visit him in Buffalo.

"He was in great spirits," Armstead said.

Everett's transfer to the hospital's 116-bed facility came less than two weeks after he was hurt making a tackle in the Bills' season opener against Denver on Sept. 9.

Doctors initially feared Everett would never walk again after he arrived at Buffalo's Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital paralyzed from the neck down. Everett began moving his arms and legs a few days later, leading doctors to significantly upgrade their prognosis. They're now confident the player could be walking within weeks.