HOUSTON — Miami Dolphins wide receiver Grant DuBose was hospitalized and is currently in stable condition following a serious head injury incurred during the team’s loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday. Due to the injury, DuBose will not return to South Florida with the team immediately.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel provided an update, noting that there has been “positive feedback” from the head and neck imaging taken after the incident. Nonetheless, DuBose will remain in Houston for further evaluation overnight.
The injury occurred in the third quarter when DuBose was hit in the helmet by Texans safety Calen Bullock during a pass attempt from Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The 23-year-old player lay motionless on the field for approximately 11 minutes while receiving medical assistance.
Medical personnel removed DuBose’s facemask and helmet before cutting off his jersey. He was seen shirtless and wearing a neck brace before being placed on a spine board and transported to an ambulance for further care at Memorial Hermann Hospital.
During the tense moments on the field, Dolphins players gathered to kneel and pray for their teammate, while McDaniel and Texans coach DeMeco Ryans were seen embracing. Ryans expressed his concern, stating, “When you see a guy down on the field like that, it’s very hard to see.”
Sunday’s game marked DuBose’s return after being sidelined since Week 2 due to a shoulder injury. Bullock was penalized for unnecessary roughness on the play. He later commented, “I was praying that he would be OK. I wasn’t trying to go out there and hurt nobody.”
After the game, Tagovailoa reflected on the incident, noting his sense of responsibility for the situation. He shared, “I’m my toughest critic when it comes to ball placement… I just feel bad that I even put him in that situation.” Tagovailoa, who has faced multiple concussions himself, emphasized the physical toll the sport takes on players.
Teammate Tyreek Hill reported that DuBose was in “good spirits” and was moving, which offered a sense of relief to the team. Hill expressed the gravity of the situation, saying, “It was scary… People don’t understand the sacrifice that we make to play this game.”
Despite the emotional weight of the circumstances, the Dolphins pressed on to score their first touchdown after play resumed, though they ultimately lost the game, falling to a record of 6-8.
McDaniel acknowledged the difficulty of moving forward after such an event, noting his responsibility to the team. He stated, “I’m in the moment with the player… but I got a lot of people counting on me to make sound decisions.”
In another injury-related update, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle also left the game with a knee injury. McDaniel mentioned that Waddle was “super frustrated,” with more information expected on his condition come Monday.
This incident highlights the risks that players face in professional football, but the positive news regarding DuBose’s condition serves as a hopeful note for the Dolphins and their fans.
In summary, the article covers the concerning situation surrounding Grant DuBose’s injury, his current stable condition in the hospital, the emotional impact on his teammates, and the team’s efforts to move forward amid challenging circumstances.