A neck injury sustained by a Detroit Lions player during Sunday’s game at Gillette Stadium against the New England Patriots is being assessed at a hospital in Massachusetts.
Lions cornerback Saivion Smith, who attempted to block Patriots tight end Hunter Henry at the line of scrimmage, went down, and an ambulance was called onto the field for him. Early in the first quarter, Henry broke loose from Smith and ran for 23 yards.
While Smith stayed on the pitch, face down on his side, trainers called for a stretcher right away. For several minutes, he was on the field in Foxborough while an ambulance was pushed onto the grass.
Before Smith was put into the ambulance and taken away, the whole Lions squad stepped out onto the field and surrounded him.
#Lions Saivion Smith had to be taken off the field in an ambulance in Foxboro. It’s not really clear what happened on the replay. Didn’t appear to be a head injury but it’s hard to say. pic.twitter.com/bWpoAgytwr
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) October 9, 2022
FOX Sports reporter Shannon Spake verified that Smith’s father departed in the ambulance with him after Smith was placed on a backboard. It’s still unknown who the other man was who was carried down onto the field and walked to the ambulance.
During the game broadcast, Spake stated, “People down here on the sideline are still trying to figure out exactly what happened.” “I saw the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant working with team doctors, watching the film over and over again, still just trying to figure out exactly how a potential neck injury took place.”
Smith was strapped to the backboard in a picture taken by The Associated Press’s Michael Dwyer. The photo revealed that while Smith’s helmet was still on his head, the medical professionals had taken off his facemask.
At 1:30 p.m., the Lions’ PR account announced on Twitter that Smith was being transported to a nearby hospital for a neck injury assessment.
#SaivionSmith taken of by ambulance. Hoping more precaution based on temporary neurologic issue rather than serious injury. pic.twitter.com/cAuhO44FOa
— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) October 9, 2022
Shortly before 2:20 p.m., Spake reported that Smith was still being checked for his neck injury and that the Lions had advised her that he did have movement in his extremities.
Head coach of the Lions Dan Campbell stated following the game that Smith was using all of his motor skills and that he hoped Smith would be traveling back to Detroit with the club.
Following his promotion from the practice squad, Smith was starting for the first time with the Lions. The former Alabama student is currently on his third NFL season.
