Falcons rookie Kendal Daniels leaves on stretcher, then walks again
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Falcons rookie Kendal Daniels left Sunday's game on a stretcher after a neck injury. The hit came in the third quarter against the Chicago Bears.
- The Falcons said Daniels was alert and could move all his limbs. He went to Grady Memorial Hospital for more checks.
- Later reports said Daniels left the hospital. He walked back into the team's locker room on his own.
Atlanta Falcons rookie Kendal Daniels scared a whole stadium on Sunday. He left the field on a stretcher after a neck injury. Hours later, he walked back into the team's locker room on his own.
What happened
The scary moment came in the third quarter. The Falcons hosted the Chicago Bears at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Daniels went in to tackle Bears tight end Colston Loveland.
His head hit Loveland's knee as he went in. He stayed on the ground. He looked to be in great pain.
Medical staff rushed onto the field. Play stopped for several minutes. Many players took a knee.
The staff cut off Daniels' jersey. They held his neck still. They fixed him to a backboard.
Then they moved him onto a cart. He left the field on a stretcher. The team later ruled him out with a neck injury.
As he left, Daniels talked to his teammates. Penix said Daniels was in good spirits. Daniels told them to go finish the game.
His words were, 'Y'all go finish this off,' Penix said.
That account came from Josh Kendall of The Athletic. Saturday Down South shared his report.
The game went on without him. The Bears won 31-23. But the score felt small next to the injury.
Fans and players waited for news on Daniels.
Why it matters
A neck injury is one of the worst fears in football. Players know the risk each time they take the field. When a player stays down, the whole stadium holds its breath.
That is what happened on Sunday. The first update brought relief.
The Falcons shared a short statement near the end of the game. 'Kendal Daniels is alert and has movement in all his extremities,' the team said. The team said he went to Grady Memorial Hospital for more checks.
Movement in all limbs is a good early sign. It means the nerves still send signals through the body. The team still sent him to the hospital.
Doctors there could run more tests. That is the safe step after a neck injury.
Daniels is only 23 years old. Atlanta picked him in the fourth round of this year's draft. He had started all six games this season.
He came into Sunday with 22 tackles, according to CBS News. He played four seasons at Oklahoma State. Then he played one season at Oklahoma in 2025.
He was the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2022.
His coach spoke about him after the game. 'Initial reports are good,' head coach Kevin Stefanski said. He added that Daniels had movement in his limbs.
Stefanski said these moments are no fun for anybody. He said players and coaches never want to see anyone down like that. He called Daniels a kid they all love and respect.
The injury also hurt the Falcons' defense. The team had already lost linebacker Divine Deablo in the same game. Deablo left with an arm injury.
He was ruled out too. Atlanta lost two linebackers in one day. That is a hard blow for any defense.
What happens next
The best news came after the game. Daniels left Grady Memorial Hospital. He came back to the stadium.
He walked into the Falcons' locker room on his own. That report came from Will McFadden, a Falcons team reporter. The Falcoholic shared his report.
It was a big change from the stretcher scene hours before.
The team has not shared a return date. As of Sunday night, no timeline was public. Daniels will need full medical clearance before he can play again.
Neck injuries need care and patience. The team will not rush him back.
Fans can watch for updates this week. The Falcons will share more when doctors finish their checks. For now, the main news is good.
A young player left on a stretcher. He walked back in on his own two feet.
That is the part fans will recall from this game. The Bears won 31-23. But the lasting image is Daniels walking again.
It turned a night of fear into a night of relief. The Falcons and their fans will hope the good news keeps coming. They will wait for the next update from the team.
For more from Week 6, read our recap of another Week 6 game
Read Auburn stuns Georgia 27-24 for another big result
See our Arch Manning benching talk in Texas for more football news
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