For as upsetting as the Atlanta Falcons' 31-23 loss to the Chicago Bears was in Week 6, it turned scary after rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels was carted off the field in the third quarter on a play where he thought he was making a routine tackle on second-year Bears tight end Colston Loveland.
Instead, when Daniels made the tackle, he led with his head, and his facemask collided right into Loveland's knee and he stayed down on the field for a while. However, while he was in obvious pain, the young backer was conscious and mobile and was able to move his hands and extremities.
The entire team left the sideline to gather around him and players from both teams knelt in concern while the medical staff cut off his jersey, immobilized his neck, strapped him to a gurney and stretcher, and carted him off the field, where he was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital for further evaluation, which was later reported to be merely precautionary.
When there is a stoppage in play that lasts around 15-20 minutes and a head/neck injury that snaps his head backwards occurs, it's easy to fear for the worst. But the Falcons avoided the worst-case scenario on the Daniels front, as Kevin Stefanski revealed it is all positive news on him so far.
"All positive news on Kendal Daniels," Stefanski said. "He's here, back in the building today. He got back from the hospital to the locker room last evening after the game, which I think you guys may have saw. Feel very very fortunate that he got the treatment he got, but also that we feel really good about where he is.
Stefanski's update comes after The Athletic's Josh Kendall reported that the fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma returned to the locker room in game pants about an hour after the game ended, during which he was walking under his own power. And given what this could've been, this is amazing news,
Thankfully, Atlanta Falcons rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels did not suffer a career-threatening injury
Upon first glance, the injury looked like it could paralyze him and/or possible threaten his career, but now, it may not even end his rookie season. And given the 23-year-old has been off to an incredibly promising start through the first six games of his NFL career, it's hard not to be encouraged by this.
Stefanski did not give an update on his status for Week 7 against the San Francisco 49ers since more imaging has to be done and they won't practice until tomorrow, but not ruling him out is at least a good sign that he has a chance to play--which honestly felt unfathomable in the moment.
It's been an incredibly promising rookie season for a talented young player. Daniels ranks fourth among all rookie linebackers with 22 solo tackles, he recorded his first career sack in Week 5 against the Ravens, and he's been best as a run defender. He's been a starter next to Divine Deablo (who also got hurt Sunday) since Week 1, and Jeff Ulbrich has worked his magic in developing him.
At 6-foot-5 and 242 pounds with elite athleticism, using a Day 3 pick on No. 53 was essentially the Dirty Birds finding another Deablo, as his emergence should make Atlanta feel comfortable losing him in free agency, especially since they're both converted safeties who are great at defending the run. He's looked like someone who will be a fixture on this starting defense for years to come.
And while Kendal Daniels' head/neck injury in the Week 6 loss was incredibly scary, this defense can't afford to be without their versatile playmaker for a while, and thankfully, not only does it seem like he will be okay, but his return could be sooner than we realize.
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