Football player removes glove and notices his middle finger has gone 'missing'

While tackling New Orleans Saints' running back Darren Sproles during a punt return on Sunday, Arizona Cardinal safety and special teams specialist Rashad Johnson "lost" his finger above the first knuckle. He didn't even notice the injury at first.

According to the Arizona Republic's Kent Somers, Johnson walked to the sideline after the play, removed his glove, and discovered that a significant part of his left middle finger was "missing."

They quickly found it, in his glove. He was removed from the game and sent to the hospital, where doctors "shaved [the] bone ... down to the first knuckle."

No attempt was made to reattach the finger.

After surgery, Johnson tweeted about the injury he initially didn't even realize he'd suffered, writing that he "[h]ad exposed bone and skin shaved down ... [it was] prob the most painful injury I've had."

NFL sources confirm it was shaved "down to the first knuckle" to prevent infection.

Johnson is listed as day-to-day and is expected to play next week.

[Screen-cap via Youtube]