FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Lions defensive back Saivion Smith was carted off the field following a collision early in the first quarter of the Detroit’s matchup with the New England Patriots.
Smith remained down on the field, laying face down on his side following the Patriots’ second offensive play of the game with 10:29 left in the quarter.
Trainers immediately called for a stretcher as Smith was attended to. He was on the field for several minutes as an ambulance was driven onto the field.
The entire Lions bench emptied onto the field and they circled Smith before he was loaded and driven off.
The Lions announced he had been taken to a hospital to be evaluated for a neck injury.
Smith was promoted from the practice squad this week after a rash of injuries to the Lions secondary.
Detroit Lions cornerback Saivion Smith was taken off the field in an ambulance after suffering an injury against the New England Patriots.
The Lions announced shortly after the injury that he was headed to a local hospital and is being evaluated for a neck injury.
He has movement in his extremities, per the Fox broadcast.
The extent of the injury is not yet known.
Medics on the field brought out a stabilizing board for Smith before putting him in the ambulance.
During the first quarter, Smith was covering Hunter Henry when he went down, appearing to collapse on the field.
As the medical staff tended to the 24-year-old, the Lions team and a few members of the opposing team gathered around the player.
Before the ambulance drove off the field, two people from the stands joined the medical staff in the ambulance.
According to the Fox broadcast, one was Smith’s father.
today was Smith’s first start in his four year NFL career.
Detroit Lions cornerback Saivion Smith was involved in a scary moment in his Week 5 game against the New England Patriots.
Smith appeared to line up against tight end Hunter Henry as the Patriots snapped the ball. Smith went to press Henry and collided with him as the ball was snapped. Smith fell to the ground and was injured.
The 24-year-old who was playing his first defensive snaps of the season was down as medical personnel came out to attend to him.
A stretcher was brought out and later an ambulance was on the field. NFL officials also allowed a family member to come onto the field at Gillette Stadium
The team said he was taken to a local hospital to be “evaluated for a neck injury.”
Smith joined the Lions’ practice squad in August after he was initially waived. He was elevated to the main roster as the team lost two defensive ends, Charles Harris and John Cominsky. Linebacker Chris Board was also questionable coming into the game.
Detroit has Jeff Okudah and Amani Oruwarlye as their usual starters but Oruwariye was inactive for the game.
Bobby Price and Will Harris also play cornerback. Mike Hughes and Chase Lucas are listed as nickel cornerbacks.
