'Scary to see': NFL player hospitalised after ‘traumatising’ hit
Denver Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had to be taken to hospital after being on the receiving end of a sickening blow during the Broncos’ 15-10 defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday morning (AEDT).
The incident occurred as Bridgewater scrambled for a first down late in the third quarter of the contest. As he closed in on the first down marker, Bridgewater was hit by Bengals linebacker Joe Bachie, sending the Broncos quarterback into the air.
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As he landed, he received more contact from Bengals defensive tackle Bobby Hill Jr before hitting the ground hard.
Prayers up for Teddy Bridgewater and Bengals LB Joe Bachie. Teddy took a shot, hit the ground hard and was knocked out. Bachie was down holding his knee. pic.twitter.com/2lwva6085D
— ✯✯✯✯✯ (@FTB_Vids_YT) December 19, 2021
Bridgewater lay motionless while Broncos medical staff made their way onto the field to treat him. They removed the face mask from his helmet before placing him on a stretcher and taking him a local hospital via ambulance.
Teddy Bridgewater was carted off the field after a scary injury vs. Bengals
Prayers up 🙏 pic.twitter.com/2nns0gtPLf— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 19, 2021
It was later announced that Bridgewater had ‘movement in all extremities’ and was taken to the hospital as a precaution.
The #Broncos say that QB Teddy Bridgewater has movement in all his extremities. He was taken to a hospital as a precaution, in part due to a head injury.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 19, 2021
Speaking after the game, Broncos head coach Vic Fangio indicated it was likely Bridgewater had a concussion, but would remain in hospital overnight for further testing.
“Everything has checked out to this point,” Fangio said.
“They think he will, should be, fine.”
“(I) haven't heard it labeled (a concussion), but I'm sure it probably is.”
QB Teddy Bridgewater will stay at the hospital overnight for further evaluation, but so far everything has checked out well, per Coach Fangio.
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) December 20, 2021
Teammates in shock after nasty Teddy Bridgewater hit
Broncos linebacker Bradley Chubb described the moment as ‘traumatising’.
“It's scary, man ... it's still traumatising ... scary to see,” Chubb said.
Broncos safety Justin Simmons said the incident rocked the Denver locker room.
“We you see a guy like Teddy go down, that hurts, man,” Simmons said.
“We know what Teddy puts into it, he's such a big voice in our locker room, it hurts, obviously, from a football standpoint, it hurts as a leader, but just as a friend, a guy that invests into you so much, it hurts to see.”
It was the third time in a matter of weeks an ambulance had to make its way onto an NFL field, following equally scary incidents involving Los Angeles Chargers tight end Donald Parham and San Francisco 49ers running back Trenton Cannon.
Bridgewater left the game with 12 completed passes from 22 attempts for 98 passing yards, as well as 10 rushing yards on three runs. He was replaced by Drew Lock, who led the Broncos to a touchdown on his first drive of the game, but was ultimately unable to steer the team to victory.
For the Bengals, the win improved their record to 8-6, tying them for first place in the stacked AFC North, while the Broncos are now 7-7 and still vying for an AFC Wild Card spot.
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