It was a tough day for NFL running backs to stay on the field.
The New England Patriots lost Sony Michel to a knee injury, while Bills back LeSean McCoy suffered a head injury. Bilal Powell sustained a neck injury in the second quarter of the Jets’ loss to the Vikings on Sunday.
Michel had to be helped off the field after he got twisted around by Bilal Nichols as he was tackled on the first play of the second quarter. Michel lost a fumble on the play and had to be helped to the sideline. In the previous three games, Michel rushed for 316 yards and four touchdowns.
McCoy got injured on the Bills’ second offensive play when he hurt his head while going out of bounds. He walked slowly across the field and into the injury tent, where he was checked by team doctors. After a few minutes, McCoy came out of the tent and walked across the field with one arm around a trainer or team doctor. Coach Sean McDermott said it was unclear whether McCoy would be cleared through the concussion protocol in time for next Monday’s game against New England.
He was replaced in the lineup by veteran Chris Ivory, who also briefly left in the third quarter with what appeared to be a lower left leg or foot injury. He did return.
It wasn’t just the running backs who got hurt. Miami lost receiver Albert Wilson and Kenny Stills. Wilson left with a leg injury in the second quarter after his foot appeared to buckle when he was tackled on a 25-yard reception. Stills limped to the locker room with a minute left in the loss to the Lions.
Earlier in the game, he accidently hurt a stadium security guard’s shoulder when he blindsided her on a scoring play . Stills’ momentum carried him into the guard after he caught a 5-yard pass in the corner of the end zone, and the woman tumbled to the ground. A dazed Stills checked on her and gave her the ball as a souvenir. The Dolphins said the guard was taken to the hospital as a precaution with a sore shoulder.
Miami coach Adam Gase said he didn’t consider the positioning of the guard near the end zone something that needed to be addressed.
“Every stadium is like that where that can happen,” the coach said.
In other injury news:
-Jets safety Doug Middleton, starting in place of the injured Marcus Maye, also left in the second quarter with a shoulder injury. It was uncertain how Middleton was injured. He was in on punt coverage and then took the field on defense, but took a knee to signal he was hurt and headed straight to the locker room with Jets medical staff. Jets coach Todd Bowles said both Middleton and Powell would have tests to determine the severity of their injuries.
-Minnesota left guard Tom Compton departed in the first quarter with a knee injury.
-Panthers DE Mario Addison twice left the game at Philadelphia with a back injury and didn’t return after going out in the fourth quarter.
-Buccaneers LB Kwon Alexander was lost to a knee injury late in the second quarter. Backup LB Jack Cichy left in the third quarter and did not return.
-Colts defensive tackle Jihad Ward was carted off the field with an injured right ankle in the first quarter and TE Eric Swoope left with a knee injury. Neither returned.
-49ers safety Adrian Colbert was taken off on a cart after injuring his right leg in the third quarter. Linebacker Reuben Foster left in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury.
-Houston wide receiver Keke Coutee left in the second quarter with a hamstring injury and was ruled out at halftime. -Jacksonville cornerback Tyler Patmon was ruled out in the second quarter of the same game because of a strained neck.
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