After an injury, Isaiah Bolden was released from the hospital; the Patriots and Packers ended their game early.
According to NFL.com’s Nick Shook, the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers agreed to halt their preseason game early on Saturday at Lambeau Field after New England rookie cornerback Isaiah Bolden was taken off the field on a stretcher.
Bolden seemed to have a concussion when he collided with teammate Calvin Munson on a third-down pass to Packers receiver Malik Heath with 10:29 left in the fourth quarter.
As Bolden lay unmoving on the ground, medical staff raced to his aid. As he was carted off the field and sent to the hospital, he was surrounded by teammates. “He had feeling in all of his extremities, but has been taken to a local hospital for further tests and observation,” the Patriots stated in a statement, as Nicole Yang of the Boston Globe reported.
The Patriots confirmed Sunday morning that Bolden had been discharged from the hospital and will return to Foxborough with the team. Bolden also expressed his gratitude on social media:
The Patriots were leading 21-17 when the game was called.
“We’re all praying for Isaiah (Bolden),” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said after the game. We were pleased with how the league handled the situation. That, we believe, was the correct decision.”
According to Zack Cox of NESN.com, Patriots’ Matthew Slater commended Belichick for the decision:
I appreciate what Coach Belichick done. He took the lead in this matter. This isn’t the AFC Championship. We’re not trying to break any records. It’s Game 2 of the preseason. When a guy sustains an injury like that, it affects a lot of guys in a variety of ways. Our squad was clearly upset by what transpired, and I believe Coach made the correct decision.
That was outstanding leadership on his part, in my opinion. To witness what he did was one of the finest experiences I’ve had as a player who’s played for him for the past 16 years. There was no second thought. I also want to thank Coach LaFleur for sticking by him. I believe everyone moved quickly, which was the correct decision in this situation.
According to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur also discussed the decision to halt the game early.
That is obviously a very scary finale to the game. Isaiah Bolden and his family are in our thoughts and prayers. That’s a terrifying scenario, and one you never want to witness in our game. I believed it was in both sides’ best interests. Coach Belichick and I discussed the action we took on the field. We’ve done a lot of wonderful work in the last few days, but it’s difficult to remember much of it. I only hope that young man is okay.
Bolden was the second NFL player stretchered off the field during preseason action on Saturday.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback John Wolford was hauled off the field and sent to the hospital after suffering a neck injury on a sack against the New York Jets.
Bolden was taken by the Patriots in the seventh round of the 2023 draft out of Jackson State. He started college at Florida State before transferring.
New England will wrap up the preseason on Friday before beginning the regular season on September 10 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
