ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Falcons rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels was injured and left the field on a stretcher in the third quarter of Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.
The Falcons said that Daniels was alert and had movement in all his extremities and was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital for further evaluation. He was seen after the game in the locker room walking under his own power.
“He did have movement in his extremities out there on the field,” Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said. “I thought the medical staff did an outstanding job of getting him safely off the field. So all reports so far have been good. We’ll continue to pray that they remain good.”
Daniels made a tackle on Bears tight end Colston Loveland and remained on the ground. He was attended to for several minutes and strapped to a board by trainers and left the field on a cart. His legs, body, head and shoulders were strapped down. On the way off the field, he made a fist with his left hand.
Several defensive players on the Falcons were on one knee while Daniels was being attended to. Eventually, the entire Falcons bench came over on the field to support him. Multiple Bears players were also on one knee while Daniels was worked on.
“We play a violent game. So, you know, there’s a part of you that accepts it, but at the end of the day, we’re all still human,” said Falcons linebacker Josh Woods, who stood nearby Daniels when he was on the field. “He’s my little brother. Love him dearly. So it’s scary, you know? That initial shock ... it’s a lot. So yeah, I got a bit emotional.”
Woods took over the green dot helmet that communicates with the defensive coaches after Daniels was injured.
Daniels is a fourth-round draft pick out of Oklahoma. He has started six games and entered Sunday with 22 tackles this season.
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