Grant DuBose, 23-year-old receiver for the Miami Dolphins, was hospitalized this Sunday after a hit that caused a concussion during his team’s game against the Houston Texans in week 15 of the NFL season.
The injury happened in the third quarter. DuBose received a pass from Tua Tagovailoa and tried to gain more yards, but was stopped by Calen Bullock, who lowered his head and caused a helmet-to-helmet collision that sent Grant to the turf and his neck bounced against it. Bullock’s action was penalized for reckless use of the helmet.
The receiver was left lying facing the sky with his arms rigid at his sides, a dramatic sign of concussion that required rapid medical attention. It took paramedics more than 10 minutes to stabilize the recipient.
To achieve this, they cut off his game jersey, removed his equipment and helmet, immobilized his neck with a neck brace, and secured his head and limbs with tape before placing an oxygen mask on him. While DuBose was being treated, his teammates, led by Tua Tagovailoa, who has suffered four concussions in his career, formed a circle on the field and took a knee while praying for him before the worried face of Mike McDaniel, the team’s coach.
Grant DuBose taken off the field on a stretcherLAPRESSE
Minutes later, the Miami Dolphins reported that their player was taken to a hospital in stable condition. “Receiver Grant DuBose has been ruled out with a head injury. He is in stable condition and was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation,” the team announced in a statement.
According to NFL data, in last August’s preseason, 44 concussions were recorded in training and games, the lowest number since tracking of this injury began in 2015. Despite this reduction, the league maintains improvements in the helmet technology, with personalized models, and the adaptation of several of the game rules that seek to reduce the speed and forcefulness of impacts between players.
