Chandler Zavala of the Carolina Panthers was taken off the field on a backboard and rushed to the hospital after suffering a severe injury against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Zavala was injured after colliding with a defender after a seemingly routine play. He was on the ground for several minutes as medical workers checked on him.As Zavala was being evaluated, benches from both sideslines spilled onto the field.
Zavala was given a cart and a backboard. The trolley was loaded with the 6-foot-3-inch, 322-pound lineman. As he was being escorted off the pitch, he gave the audience a thumbs up.
According to FOX sideline reporter Pam Oliver, Zavala was brought to the hospital for additional evaluation. Oliver stated that he was suffering from a neck injury.
Zavala was released from the hospital later that day and returned home with the team.
“That’s the scary part of what we do,” Panthers centre Bradley Bozeman told the team’s official website. “It’s scary when a guy like Chandler goes down and he’s sitting there, and they’re taking the facemask off and getting the cart out.” But, at the end of the day, we have to move on; you must log back in.
“When he said, ‘Hey, go get this,’ we knew he was good. But I’m just trying to keep battling and get back into the moment. It’s always a relief when they respond with something, whether it’s a thumbs up or something else. He did
This past spring, the Panthers selected Zavala in the fourth round of the draught. He attended Fairmont State and North Carolina State before turning proComing into the game, Zavala was listed as the starting guard. Calvin Throckmorton and Nah Jensen are listed as backups on the team’s depth chart. Cade Mays took his place.
Following a horrific scene in Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers left lineman Chandler Zavala was hospitalised with a neck injury.
In the second quarter of Detroit’s 42-24 victory, the Panthers rookie fell face-first to the turf on what appeared to be a normal block on a run play. He stayed on the ground as players on the pitch requested medical care following the play.
Panthers bench players swiftly joined their colleagues on the pitch to surround Zavala. Lions players stood there, some kneeling, as a stretcher was wheeled out. Fans sat in nervous quiet.
Medical personnel attended to Zavala on the pitch, eventually placing him on the stretcher and loading him onto the cart. The extent of his injury was unknown. As the cart transported him off the pitch, Zavala offered a thumbs up to the Detroit crowd’s standing ovation.
Soon later, the Panthers stated that Zavala had been transferred to a local hospital for evaluation of a neck injury. Head coach Frank Reich told reporters after the game that Zavala has mobility in his extremities.
Zavala was eventually discharged from the hospital and returned to Charlotte with the Panthers.
While it is unknown how long Zavala will be out with his injury, the fact that he was able to fly home with the squad on schedule is encouraging. The Panthers, who fell to 0-5 on the season after their loss on Sunday, will face the Miami Dolphins next week in South Florida.
