Miami Dolphins wide receiver Grant DuBose was taken to hospital on Sunday after being carted off against the Houston Texans following a scary helmet-to-helmet collision in his side's 20-12 loss.
DuBose went down under a hit from rookie Calen Bullock while attempting to make a catch during the third quarter, with his head striking the turf and his fists clenched as the receiver was left motionless.
He received treatment from emergency medical personnel for more than 10 minutes on the field as his jersey was cut off and a neck brace applied.
The entire Dolphins sideline meanwhile gathered in a circle in prayer amid concern for their teammate, with head coach Mike McDaniel visibly emotional.
"Very unfortunate. Very tough to have seen live," said Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. "I'm my toughest critic when it comes to ball placement. I just feel bad that I even put him in that situation to have gotten hit. It was tough to move on after that happened."
DuBose, a seventh-round pick in 2023, was eventually placed on a spine board with his arms and legs strapped down as he was stretchered off the field.
The Dolphins later stated that DuBose was in a stable condition and receiving further evaluation after being taken straight to hospital in Houston, where he will remain overnight.
"It was scary," said Miami teammate Tyreek Hill. "Just being on the field, seeing it, and then actually seeing one of your brothers laying the way he was laying, it's scary.
"People don't understand the sacrifice that we have to make to play this game, that we put our bodies through."