New York Giants wide receiver C.J. Board was briefly knocked unconscious and subsequently carted off the field in a terrifying scene during a 20-19 victory over the Washington Football Team on Sunday.
Board attempted to make a catch early in the third quarter when he was hit by Washington safety Deshazor Everett. The receiver appeared to be out before he hit the ground, which resulted in his head striking the turf awkwardly.
Giants trainers quickly rushed to the scene and called out the cart, immobilizing Board, removing his facemask and then taking him to a local hospital. He was ruled out with a concussion and a sprained neck.
Board has since been released from the hospital.
As frightening as it looked, Giants head coach Joe Judge offered encouraging news on Board after the game.
“The one thing I can say good news-wise, even on the field he was moving, he was conscious, he was responding, he had feeling, he had movement in all of his extremities,” Judge told reporters. “They obviously had to have some precautions with what they were doing. I’ll let the doctors diagnose exactly what it is, but the feedback I was given just now was pretty positive overall, so that was a relief.”
Fellow wide receiver Darius Slayton, who was also banged up during the game, said he didn’t see the initial hit but he did hear it.
“I heard the collision. I knew it was a good hit. I looked over there and saw him,” Slayton said. “Obviously, first thing I did was I prayed for him. I will continue to pray for him. They said nothing was wrong with his neck. Nothing wrong with his spine. Just concussed. Obviously, I wouldn’t even want that to be wrong with him, but I’m fortunate that he’s alert, he’s OK.”
The Giants claimed Board off of waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars this past summer. The 26-year-old has appeared in all six of the team’s games, hauling in seven receptions for 66 yards.
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