At Gillette Stadium, the crowd fell silent as the serious scene of Detroit Lions safety Saivion Smith being taken from the field in an ambulance during the first quarter of the game versus the New England Patriots unfolded.
Lions teammates surrounded Smith before his father and uncle joined him in the ambulance from the stands.
The hospital performed a neck injury evaluation on Smith. His extremities are able to move.
After the 29-0 defeat, quarterback Jared Goff stated it was difficult to see “your brother or teammate having that happen, but that doesn’t impact the way we played.”
Despite the psychological cost, Goff refused to blame Sunday’s loss on Smith’s injury.
“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).”
After being promoted from the practice squad on Saturday, Smith, in his second season out of Alabama, started unexpectedly for the Lions on Sunday.
In order for Smith to fly home with the team, Campbell stated that the Lions would make every effort to get him back on the team jet.
