New York Jets offensive lineman Xavier Newman was rushed to hospital after suffering a neck injury in their defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Midway through the third quarter of the Jets’ 37-15 loss in Pittsburgh, Newman fell awkwardly after shipping a heavy hit and was initially unable to move his limbs while laying in agony on the floor.
When an Aaron Rodgers pass was intercepted by the Steelers, the 25-year-old took the hit and stumbled backwards in an attempt to find his balance, only to lose it and land heavily on the back of his neck.
After medics rushed onto the field, he was strapped to a spine board and rushed to hospital on a stretcher in terrifying scenes.
However, in his postgame press conference interim Jets head coach Jeff Ulbrich confirmed Newman was travelling back with the team after all tests came back ‘negative’.
New York Jets star Xavier Newman has been rushed to hospital after suffering a horror injury
Ulbrich described the update as a ‘huge relief’.
Newman was playing in his seventh game of the season and 18th of his three-year career.
The former Tennessee Titans star, who moved to New York in October 2023, had been playing for the injured Alijah Vera-Tucker in Pittsburgh.
He originally was an undrafted free agent out of Baylor in 2022 and signed with the Titans.
Newman was released by the Titans in October 2023 and subsequently signed to the Jets’ practice squad.
After his scary injury in Pittsburgh, the Jets eventually slumped to their fourth straight defeat in a blowout loss to the Steelers as Donald Trump watched on from the stands.
Newman was strapped to a spine board and rushed to hospital on a stretcher in scary scenes
Davante Adams was unable to get off to a winning start on his eagerly-awaited debut, taking just three catches for 30 yards on an underwhelming first appearance.
It proved a disappointing night for Aaron Rodgers, despite the quarterback completing 24 of his 39 passes for 276 yards and a touchdown.
Rodgers, who was sacked just once on the night, is now clinging on the slimmest of playoff hopes in his first full season as a Jets player.
The Steelers, meanwhile, are now 5-2 for the season after Russell Wilson marked his first start at quarterback with a resounding win.
