Patriots rookie cornerback Isaiah Bolden was carried off the field on a stretcher in a scary scene during the second half of New England’s preseason game against the Packers in Green Bay Saturday night.
The good news is that Bolden has feeling in his extremities, according to the Patriots, who said he was being taken to a local hospital for a check-up.
Bolden, a seventh-round pick from Jackson State, collided with teammate Calvin Munson in the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The 23-year-old Tampa native remained motionless on the turf before becoming unable to move as Patriots players gathered around him.
As medical officials treated Bolden, both teams exited their respective touchlines and entered the field, with some players getting on one knee.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick, Packers coach Matt Lafleur and New England captain Matthew Slater were seen talking while the coaches tended to Bolden. After that, Belichick turned to referee John Hussey, who stopped the game while the Patriots led 21-17 in the fourth quarter.
New England Patriots cornerback Isaiah Bolden will be called off the field Saturday night
Patriots rookie cornerback Isaiah Bolden was carried off the field on a stretcher after the hit
Bolden is on the field after an injury in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers
NFL officials faced a similar situation in January when Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest in Cincinnati after colliding with Bengals receiver Tee Higgins.
After some back and forth, the rest of the game was abandoned and never repeated.
On Saturday, while medical officials were treating Bolden, both teams exited their respective touchlines and entered the field, with some players sustaining knee injuries.
Munson, whose collision with Bolden led to the frightening incident on Saturday, was then seen praying on the pitch.
Bolden’s injury wasn’t the only scare for the NFL on Saturday. In New Jersey, where the New York Jets were hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bucs quarterback John Wolford was carried off the field on a stretcher.
Like Bolden, Wolford has feeling in his extremities and was taken to a hospital for further evaluation.
Isaiah, the cousin of former Patriots running back Brandon Bolden, attended Florida State before moving to Jackson State, where he played for Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.
He was selected in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft and hoped to get the team out of training camp.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick (left) and Packers coach Matt Lafleur agreed to a game stoppage
The Patriots players react as teammate Isaiah Bolden receives treatment after his injury
New England Patriots linebacker Calvin Munson (43) reacts after colliding with Bolden
Before Bolden’s injury, New England’s Mac Jones made his first preseason appearance before Bailey Zappe took over and put the Patriots ahead.
Jones hauled 6-of-9 for 52 yards in three series, including an 18-yard touchdown drive after a Packers lost possession. Jones didn’t play last week as the Patriots opened the preseason with a 20-9 loss to the Houston Texans.
Zappe was 10 of 22 for 117 yards with a 40-yard touchdown pass to Kayshon Boutte. Zappe ended the third quarter with a 6-yard touchdown run on a four-and-2 play.
Green Bay’s Jordan Love threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to rookie second-round pick Jayden Reed in his third and final series of the game.
Love was 5-of-8 for 83 yards and also had two carries for 11 yards while continuing to prepare for his first season as a starter following the transfer of four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets.
New England Patriots players watch as teammate Isaiah Bolden is brought off the field
Green Bay’s Kingsley Enagbare sacked Jones twice. His second sack resulted in a fumble that Enagbare recovered to set up the Packers’ second touchdown. Enagbare would likely start in Green Bay’s inaugural game Sept. 10 in Chicago if the Packers didn’t have outside linebacker Rashan Gary, coming back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament that ended his 2022 season.
Green Bay’s Anders Carlson fired a 52-yard field goal with a second remaining in the first half.
That meant a big boost for the Auburn-based freshman, who was selected in the sixth round after missing two extra point attempts in a 36-19 win in Cincinnati last week.
The Packers plan for Carlson to succeed Mason Crosby, the franchise’s top scorer. Crosby, who has been Green Bay’s kicker since 2007, remains a free agent.