Tampa Bay wide receiver Russell Gage had to be taken off the field on a stretcher after Monday’s playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys left him unable to get back on his feet.
The incident happened during the fourth quarter when the 26-year-old tried to intercept a pass.
Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson leaned in to tackle and he collided with the back of Gage’s helmet.
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Gage was unable to get back up after the collision, as his body slumped back down each time he tried. This prompted concern among players from both teams on the field.
Both teams waited and watched as medical staff rushed to examine Gage on the field.
In scenes reminiscent of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest on field earlier this month, after receiving medical attention on the field, Gage was taken away on a stretcher.
He was put in a neck brace and taken to hospital and commentators during the broadcast highlighted that Gage had suffered a back injury last week.
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Meanwhile, NFL fans sent messages of support on Twitter as they wait for updates regarding Gage's injury.
"Lawd. Praying for this brother," one person tweeted.
"This doesn't look good," another sports fan wrote. "Sending prayers."
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While a third wrote: "Prayers up."
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles provided an updated at a postgame press conference. “They took him to the hospital for now,” he said. “He has a concussion right now. They’ll also test him for a potential neck injury.
“His fingers were moving when he was down there,” Bowles added. “I don’t know about the rest.”
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The Buccaneers achieved a late touchdown a few of plays after Gage’s injury, which made the score 31-14.
In other news, Damar Hamlin was released from hospital last week after he collapsed on the field of play and his heart stopped during a Buffalo Bills game against the Cincinnati Bengals on 2 January.
Tributes poured in for the 24-year-old athlete following the scary incident.
Medics administered CPR to Hamlin as he lay on the field, resuscitating him once there and again when an ambulance had transported him to hospital.
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Hamlin collapsed with five minutes left to play in the first quarter of the game, after being involved in a tackle with Bengals player Tee Higgins.
Dr William A. Knight made the positive announcement about Hamlin's recovery at a news conference last Monday (9 January).
Gregory Robinson