The New England Patriots’ preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles started in the worst possible fashion.
On the game’s opening kickoff that was run back by New England’s Lan Larison, Eagles running back Ja’Quinden Jackson remained on the ground after a collision. It was clear immediately that his injury was significant, prompting a quick reaction from the medical staff.
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Jackson eventually was put on a stretcher and left the field in an ambulance. His team later shared that he has “strength and movement in all extremities” and was being taken to a hospital for further evaluation. His agent, Damien Butler, released a statement afterwards that his client was “awake, has full movement and use of all four limbs, and his CT scan came back negative.”
The scene nonetheless was a scary one. Afterwards, the Patriots expressed their well-wishes for the 24-year-old.
“I would just like to send our thoughts and prayers out for Ja’Quinden Jackson,” said New England head coach Mike Vrabel during his postgame presser. “You never like to see that. Obviously, I hope everything’s okay there. That’s not how you want to start any game or see anybody out there on the field like that.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Ja’Quinden and his family,” added quarterback Tommy DeVito. “Not something you would like to see on the field. Obviously, it’s a physical game. Definitely not the way you want the game to start out. I hear he’s doing a better, though.So, thoughts and prayers with him and his family.”
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A second-year running back who started his career as an undrafted rookie with the Jaguars, Jackson joined the Eagles earlier this month. He played 19 snaps between offense and special teams in Philadelphia’s preseason opener, catching an 11-yard pass.
Further Patriots to comment on the injury include Kyle Williams, Behren Morton, Nick DeGennaro and Efton Chism. They appeared on the podium after Vrabel and DeVito, and also opened their pressers by making sure to shout out Jackson.
“Just want to give my thoughts and prayers out to Mr. Jackson and his family, and everything they’re going through,” Chism said. “That’s a very tough situation. I hope everything is going well for them and that they’re in good spirts.”
Jackson’s injury brought back memories of former New England cornerback Isaiah Bolden remaining on the ground in a preseason game against the Packers in 2023. Back then, with 10:29 remaining in the fourth quarter, the contest was suspended. No such thing happened on Saturday, with the game resuming a handful of minutes after Jackson’s departure. The home team Patriots ended up winning with a final score of 24-21.
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