Detroit Lions safety Saivion Smith was carted off the field in an ambulance during the opening quarter against the New England Patriots.
Saivion Smith : Injury Update| What happened to
Saivion Smith is an American football cornerback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL).
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born: | November 5, 1997 Tampa, Florida |
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight: | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | IMG Academy (FL) |
| College: | LSU (2016) Mississippi Gulf Coast (2017) Alabama (2018) |
| Undrafted: | 2019 |
He played college football at the University of Alabama.
Smith accepted a football scholarship from Louisiana State University. As a true freshman, he appeared in 10 games as a backup cornerback, collecting 4 tackles and 4 passes defensed.
He enrolled at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College for the 2017 season. As a sophomore, he appeared in 12 games, registering 31 tackles (one for loss), 2 interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 6 passes defensed (led the team), 26 kickoff returns for 718 yards (27.6-yard avg.) and one touchdown.
Injury Update
A serious scene drew silence among the fans at Gillette Stadium as Detroit Lions safety Saivion Smith was carted off the field in an ambulance during the opening quarter against the New England Patriots.
Smith’s father and uncle joined him in the ambulance from the stands after Lions teammates circled around him.
Smith was evaluated for a neck injury at the hospital. He has movement in his extremities.
“Everybody was concerned about Saivion so, yeah, that was a sigh of relief,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said of learning Smith demonstrated movement in his extremities.
It’s hard to see “your brother or teammate have that happen, but that doesn’t change the way we played,” quarterback Jared Goff said after the 29-0 loss.
Despite the emotional toll, Goff wouldn’t use Smith’s injury as an excuse for Sunday’s defeat.
“I’m sure some guys were rattled,” Goff said. “You see your guy get stretchered off, that can kind of set you back for a second, but by no means is that a reason why (we lost).”
Smith, in his second season out of Alabama, was a surprise starter for the Lions on Sunday after being elevated from the practice squad Saturday.
Campbell said the Lions are going to try to get Smith back on the team plane so he can come home with the team.
Saivion Smith what happened to
Detroit Lions safety Saivion Smith suffered a serious injury on Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium. Sunday should have been an exciting day for Saivion Smith. He got the first start of his NFL career at safety against the New England Patriots.
In the first quarter, he was assigned to cover Patriots tight end Hunter Henry. During the play in question, there was little contact between the two before Smith fell to the ground.
Both the Detroit Lions and New England Patriots medical teams came out to assist the 24-year-old. He initially wasn’t moving while laying on the field. Medical staff then put him on a backboard and stretcher.
An ambulance was brought onto the field and Smith’s family also ran down to his side, riding with him to a local hospital for further evaluation.
The Detroit Lions later reported that the safety had a neck injury but that he did have movement in all of his extremities, which is a positive sign.
This is the latest serious injury in just the first five weeks of the NFL season. The league has been adamant about adhering to protocols, especially when it comes to head and neck injuries.