ATLANTA — Kendal Daniels is alert and has movement in all his extremities, the Falcons said Sunday, after the rookie linebacker was carted off the field with a neck injury suffered on an ugly-looking collision during the team’s 31-23 loss to the Chicago Bears.
With the Bears leading 21-7 with 8:48 left in the third quarter, Daniels dived in to tackle Colston Loveland after a Caleb Williams pass completion and his head appeared to collide with the tight end’s left leg near the knee.
Daniels remained down on the field for some time as medical personnel tended to him. They stabilized his neck and body, then loaded him onto the cart in a gurney as Falcons players and coaches gathered around and wished him well. On the way off the field, Daniels made a fist with his left hand.
“He said, ‘Y’all go finish this off.’ He was in good spirits,” quarterback Michael Penix Jr. said.
The team said Daniels was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital for further evaluation.
“Those are no fun for anybody,” coach Kevin Stefanski said. “Players, coaches. You don’t want to see anyone down like that. Kendal is a kid we all love, we all respect.
“All the reports are good, and we’re praying that they remain good.”
Daniels, a fourth-round draft out of Oklahoma, has been a starter since Week 1. He was wearing the green dot as the defensive playcaller at the time of the injury with Divine Deablo out with an arm injury. Linebacker Josh Woods took over the green dot with Daniels out.
Source: www.espn.com
