Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Russell Gage was stretchered off the field during the team’s Monday night playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys and rushed to the hospital after suffering a “scary” neck injury late in the game.
Gage was injured when Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson made contact with Gage’s head after an incomplete pass late in the game’s fourth quarter. Gage fell to the ground after the pass and was hit by Wilson from behind, snapping Gage’s head forward. When the wide receiver struggled to stand afterward–he even slammed his hand onto the grass in frustration–medical responders ran onto the field to assist him.
Players from both the Bucs and Cowboys took a knee and prayed while medical personnel attended to Gage, including Tom Brady, who threw Gage the pass. Play resumed after Gage left the field in a 31-14 Cowboys win.
The Buccaneers said in a statement earlier today that Gage was kept in the hospital overnight for testing and observation after “suffering a neck injury and concussion”, adding that he has movement in all of his extremities.
“After suffering a neck injury and concussion during the fourth quarter of last night’s game, Russell was taken to a local hospital where he remained overnight for additional testing and observation,” the team statement said. “Russell has had movement in all extremities and will continue to undergo additional testing today. We will provide additional information as it becomes available.”
The play comes two weeks after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest on the field during another prime-time Monday night game. Hamlin has since been on a speedy road to recovery and was released from a Buffalo area hospital last week.
“It was really tough — especially with what happened a couple weeks ago,” Buccaneers inside linebacker Lavonte David said. “Russ is a great dude off the field and a great guy on the field. We definitely hope he’s well. He was moving and stuff like that; that was a good sign. Definitely hope he’s OK.”
