During Sunday Night Football, a scary situation unfolded following an Aaron Rodgers interception, when New York Jets offensive lineman Xavier Newman was hit helmet to helmet by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen. After falling to the ground on the sideline, Newman was placed on a spinal board and carted off the field. He is on his way to the hospital for evaluation and has been ruled out for the rest of the game.
Newman was not shown moving his extremities on the broadcast, but NBC sideline reporter Melissa Stark said he was conscious and alert. They stabilized his neck and took off his facemask while placing him on the spinal board. She later reported he was moving his extremities after leaving the field and was able to squeeze the paramedic’s hand.
Interim Jets coach Jeff Ulbrich said after the game that all the tests at the hospital were negative, and Newman will return to New York with the Jets tonight. The best news possible.
On the play, the ball went off Jets’ receiver Garrett Wilson’s shoulder pads up into the air and was picked off by Steelers cornerback Beanie Bishop, Jr. Queen set up as a lead blocker along the sideline, eventually finding Newman. After the hit, the camera followed Bishop, who cut back across the field attempting to score, so we did not see what happened after Newman was knocked to the ground.
