Denver Bronco’s defensive end Derek Wolfe was carted off the field on a backboard during his team’s Saturday 40-10 loss against the Seattle Seahawks.
Wolfe was on the field with nine minutes remaining in the first quarter of the preseason match when he was blocked on a running play.
After being carted off the field, the Bronco’s said Wolfe was being evaluated for a cervical spine injury. Team doctors revealed that Derek had full movement of all his extremities.
A CT scan found no broken bones, but the team was still awaiting an MRI to confirm a positive prognosis.
The injury occurred when Wolfe was cut on a play by Luke Wilson. As he attempted to get back up, fullback Michael Robinson collided with him. The hit appeared to compress Wolfe’s head and neck. The hit threw Wolfe to the ground where he stayed. While the defensive end was able to move his legs after an eight-minute period, medical personnel still chose to strap him to a backboard before driving him away in an ambulance.
Following the scary moment, Denver receiver Wes Welker told reporters:
“It’s a scary situation. You’re just praying for him and hoping that everything is OK and you definitely get concerned when you see the ambulance come out and things like that. Just hoping for the best.”
It wasn’t a good preseason game in terms of injury for Denver. Welker hurt his ankle during regular play, and cornerback Champ Bailey injured his left foot. Bailey has missed some practice time and will undergo an MRI on Sunday.
Also leaving the game was right guard Louis Vasquez, who injured his left knee. While Vasquez’s injury is said to be “significant” we still don’t know the condition of the team’s other injured players.
More information to follow once the Denver Bronco’s release test results for Derek Wolfe and his other fellow injured players.
