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Falcons Rookie LB Daniels Carted Off with Neck Injury
Confirmed
In Short: Atlanta Falcons rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels was carted off the field with a neck injury during Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears.
Kendal Daniels, a fourth-round draft pick out of Oklahoma, was injured during the third quarter of the Atlanta Falcons' game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
Daniels was tackled while attempting to take down Bears tight end Colston Loveland, and his head appeared to collide with Loveland’s left leg near the knee.
The Falcons announced that Daniels is alert and has movement in all his extremities, but he was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital for further evaluation.
Daniels made a fist with his left hand as he was driven off the field, indicating some level of consciousness.
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. reported that Daniels was in good spirits, telling his teammates, 'Y'all go finish this off.'
Fox Sports play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt noted that Daniels was conscious and that every precaution was taken to ensure his safety.
Daniels had started six games this season and entered Sunday with 22 tackles.
The Falcons announced that Daniels would not return to the game due to a neck injury, and he was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Trainers cut off Daniels' jersey and immobilized his neck before strapping him to a board.
With Daniels out, linebacker Josh Woods took over the green dot, which is the responsibility for relaying defensive plays.
Daniels' injury has cast uncertainty over the immediate future for both him and the Falcons' defense.
His progression into the NFL was met with optimism, but this injury could impact his career and the team's defensive strategy.
What this adds
Daniels' injury highlights the potential dangers of high-impact collisions in football.
What's confirmed
- "Kendal Daniels is alert and has movement in all his extremities. He was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital for further evaluation," the Falcons said in a statement on social media.
- Daniels is a fourth-round draft pick out of Oklahoma.
- Daniels made a tackle on Bears tight end Colston Loveland and remained on the ground.
- ATLANTA -- Kendal Daniels is alert and has movement in all his extremities, the Falcons said Sunday, after the rookie linebacker was carted off the field with a neck injury suffered on an ugly-looking collision during the team's 31-23 loss to the Chicago Bears.
- With the Bears leading 21-7 with 8:48 left in the third quarter, Daniels dived in to tackle Colston Loveland after a Caleb Williams pass completion and the linebacker's head appeared to collide with the tight end's left leg near the knee.
- As he was driven off the field, Daniels made a fist with his left hand.
- Daniels remained down on the field for some time as medical personnel tended to him.
- Falcons players and coaches gathered around as Daniels was loaded onto the cart and wished him well.
- Linebacker Josh Woods took over the green dot with Daniels out.
What's still developing
- Eventually, the entire Falcons bench came over on the field to support him.
- Multiple Bears players were also on one knee while Daniels was worked on.
- "All the reports are good, and we're praying that they remain good."
- It's great to see Daniels moving his extremities considering how scary those potential neck injuries can be on hits like that.
- Daniels immediately crumpled to the turf and lay motionless for several minutes as trainers cut off his jersey and shoulder pads.
- Daniels was wearing the green dot helmet, the one with the radio that receives the defensive play calls.
- Daniels had a notable collegiate career, initially starting at Oklahoma State before transferring to Oklahoma in 2025.
- With both players wearing the green dot helmet—the symbol for the player responsible for relaying defensive plays—hurt, the Falcons face a challenging situation moving forward.