Saturday night, the devoted Patriots fans gathered for the much-awaited preseason game against the Packers.
The Lambeau Field held its breath as the team was third down and seven yards from the end zone at a 25-yard line. But just before the final moments, a collective gasp filled the stadium as a tragedy struck in the middle of the game.
New England cornerback, also a rookie in the team, Isaiah Bolden, was charging full force to tackle the Packers’ wide receiver. With fierce eyes and dedication, he was about to attack the offense when he collided with his fellow teammate with the same intention. Bolden fell to his knees due to the severe blow to his head. He was immediately carted off the field when he fell unconscious.
What Happened to Isaiah Bolden? How Was Isaiah Bolden Injured?
Isaiah Bolden was drafted in the 2023 NFL by the New England Patriots. The Jackson State player was picked 245 overall in the seventh round. Patriots’ general manager Bill Belichick often picks players from the further rounds. He believed that Bolden had the potential as the cornerback based on his college performance.
From backpedaling and mapping the suitable defense route to executing single and zone coverage, disrupting pass routes, block shedding, and man-to-man coverage, Bolden’s impressive skills earned him a position in the Patriot roster even though he was going to sign as a free agent previously. Although his tackling skills were still a diamond in the rough.
The 19th August match was an intense showdown between the Patriots and the Packers. While the offense strategy was going according to the plan, Patriots’ defense was no way less. But a slight miscalculation between two teammates resulted in a brutal collision, as seen in the video below.
The cornerback was positioned in the inside part of the field, responsible for covering the slant pass. As the Packers’ receiver caught the regulation pass, Bolden ran towards him for tackling. But right from the opposite side, teammate Calvin Munson was also charging toward the offense. This resulted in a helmet-to-helmet collision, resulting in a massive blow to Bolden’s head. He succumbed to the ground instantly. Medical personnel was summoned immediately while captain Matthew Slater gathered the players from both teams for a prayer.
Why Was the Green Bay Game Cancelled?
After assessing the situation, referee John Hussey announced with 10:29 remaining in the fourth quarter:
“At the agreement of both head coaches and team leadership, we have elected to suspend play for the evening. The game is officially over.”
Considering Bolden’s critical condition, the Green Bay preseason game against the Patriots was canceled with respect to putting players before the game.
What Is the Status of the Injured Patriots Player?
The New England Patriot released their official statement post the unfortunate incident:
Update: Sunday, August 20 at 8:24 a.m.
“After undergoing a series of evaluations and being held for overnight observations, Patriots cornerback Isaiah Bolden has been released from the Aurora Bay Medical Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he was transported to after sustaining an on-field injury in the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Green Bay Packers. Isaiah will travel with the team today. We thank the medical staff at Aurora Bay Medical Center for their overnight evaluations, as well as the Patriots and Packers medical staffs for their immediate on-field response and care in transporting Isaiah to a nearby hospital. Due to the circumstances surrounding the abrupt and unexpected ending to last night’s game, the Patriots will return to Foxborough today. The joint practices that were scheduled with the Tennessee Titans on Tuesday and Wednesday are cancelled. The team will train in Foxborough this week and fly to Nashville on Thursday for Friday night’s game.”
Update: Saturday, August 19 at 12:37 a.m.
“Patriots cornerback Isaiah Bolden will be held overnight at a local hospital in Green Bay for observation. To set expectations, we plan to provide an update on his condition by 9 a.m. ET on Sunday.”
Update: Saturday, August 19 at 11:37 p.m.
“Patriots cornerback Isaiah Bolden sustained an injury during the fourth quarter of tonight’s game. He had feeling in all his extremities, but has been taken to a local hospital for further tests and observation.”
According to the latest report, Isaiah Bolden’s condition did not escalate to a spinal cord injury; else, he would have needed surgery and a prolonged time for recuperation. Fortunately, he has been relieved from the hospital and will be resuming with the team in Foxboro.
Bolden’s Team and Peers Weigh In on the Accident
Coach and general manager Bill Belichick said the injury made them reevaluate their perspective: “We’re all very fortunate.”
Meanwhile, coach Matt LaFleur was taken aback by the sudden collision, saying that it was “a very scary ending to the game.” He was content that the referee decided to suspend the game.
Captain Matthew Slater said in an interview, “Our primary concern is Isaiah, his well-being, and our whole team is praying for him.”
“Just hoping that things aren’t as serious as they seem.”
In the spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie, Malik Heath, Packers’ wide receiver involved in the accident, also weighed in on the incident. Malik attended his schooling at Jackson State, where Bolden resided.
“I know him, so I didn’t want to finish [the game].”.
“I felt bad, too. It was a good thing we didn’t finish it. It was scary, too. That could’ve happened to me on the hit.”
What are your thoughts on the severe accident? What do you think of Bolden’s performance so far?
Let us know in the comments section below.
