Skip to content
NOWCAST KCRA 3 News at 11pm
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Miami receiver DuBose taken off field on stretcher after hit to the head against Texans

Miami receiver DuBose taken off field on stretcher after hit to the head against Texans
LEADING CAUSES OF CRASHES RELATE TO SPEED, IMPAIRMENT AND DISTRACTED DRIVING. CONCERNS OVER CONCUSSIONS IN FOOTBALL HAVE GROWN, WITH STUDIES HIGHLIGHTING POTENTIAL SERIOUS LONG-TERM HEALTH RISKS. TONIGHT - ONE HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR FROM BANGOR IS TAKING ACTION BY PLEDGING TO DONATE HIS BRAIN FOR RESEARCH TO IMPROVE SAFETY IN THE SPORT. CONNOR CLEMENT SAT DOWN WITH HIM TO TALK ABOUT HIS DECISION. LONG AFTER HIS PLAYING DAYS ARE OVER, FIONN PARKER- CUMMINGS HOPES TO MAKE A LASTING, GAME-CHANGING IMPACT ON THE GAME HE LOVES.. 21:54:36-21:54:44 WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP THE FOOTBALL COMMUNITY PROGRESS IN SCIENCE AND BE SAFER? AND IT CAME TO MY MIND ONE DAY, I WAS LIKE MAYBE I SHOULD JUST DONATE MY BRAIN. THAT'S EXACLTY WHAT FIONN HAS PLEDGED TO DO.. WHEN HE DIES, HIS BRAIN WILL GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH'S NATIONAL SPORTS BRAIN BANK.. HE'S THE YOUNGEST PERSON TO MAKE THIS COMMITMENT. 21:53:22-21:53:29 I'VE HAD MY FAIR SHARE OF CONCUSSIONS AND I'D JUST LIKE TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT PEOPLE'S AND CLARIFY SOME SCIENCE AROUND IT. HE HOPES THIS DONATION WILL ADVANCE THE UNIVERSITY'S RESEARCH ON TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES, WITH THE GOAL OF PROTECTING FUTURE PLAYERS- FROM KIDS LIKE HIMSELF TO PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES LIKE PATRIOTS QUARTERBACK DRAKE MAYE, WHO RECENTLY SUFFERED A CONCUSSION. 21:56:33-21:56:46 IF I CAN HELP PREVENT THAT AND MAKE SURE A LITTLE KID WHOSE JUST DISCOVERING FOOTBALL CAN PICK UP A HELMET PUT IT ON AND BE SAFE AND PLAY AND LOVE IT AND MAYBE ONE DAY HAVE A CHANCE TO PLAY IN COLLEGE OR THE NFL, I WOULD 100% LOVE TO DO THAT. FIONN'S FAMILY FULLY SUPPORTS HIS DECISION. HIS FATHER, A NEUROSCIENTIST, UNDERSTANDS BETTER THAN MOST THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FIONN'S CHOICE. 22:04:34-22:04:52 HE'S ALWAYS BEEN VERY ACTIVE AND AN ACTIVIST FOR THE SPORT AND FOR PROMOTING SAFETY AND FIGHTING AGAINST THESE TACKLE FOOTBALL BANS, SO IT SEEMED SURPRISING TO HAVE SOMEONE MAKE THAT LEVEL OF COMMITMENT, BUT NOT SURPRISING BECAUSE HE'S BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT THE SPORT FOR SO LONG. FIONN WILL UNDERGO YEARLY EVALUATIONS WITH THE NATIONAL SPORTS BRAIN BANK FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE, A SPOKESPERSON SAID THEY'RE DEEPLY THANKFUL FOR FIONN'S SELFLESS PLEDGE AND SAID IT WILL BRING MORE ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE AND WI
Advertisement
Miami receiver DuBose taken off field on stretcher after hit to the head against Texans
Miami receiver Grant DuBose was taken off the field on a stretcher after a helmet-to-helmet hit against the Houston Texans on Sunday.Related video above: Maine high school football player pledges to donate brain to science to help improve game safetyDuBose tried to make a catch in the third quarter but was hit in the head by rookie Calen Bullock before his head violently hit the turf. He appeared to clench both fists after the hit — movements consistent with what's referred to as the "fencing response," which can be common after a traumatic brain injury — before remaining motionless as medical personnel rushed to his side.Bullock was given a flag for unnecessary roughness for hitting a defenseless receiver on the play.DuBose remained on the field for more than 10 minutes as he was tended to by emergency medical personnel. His jersey was cut off and a neck brace was put on him while players from both teams watched with concern.At one point, while he was down, the Dolphins moved away from him and into a circle where they kneeled and appeared to be praying. Miami coach Mike McDaniel and Houston coach DeMeco Ryans embraced at one point while he was still on the field.DuBose was eventually put on a spine board where his arms and legs were strapped down, and he was taken off the field. A tube of some kind was in his mouth, and no movement could be seen as he was taken off the field.The Dolphins said DuBose has been ruled out with a head injury. He is in stable condition and is being taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.DuBose was a seventh-round pick last season and returned Sunday after injuring his shoulder early in the season.It's the second straight Texans game where an opposing player has been injured by an illegal hit to the head after linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair's hit to the head of a sliding Trevor Lawrence gave the quarterback a concussion on Dec. 1.Lawrence was scrambling in the second quarter of that game. He initiated a slide before Al-Shaair raised his forearm and unleashed on the defenseless quarterback. He also displayed the "fencing response" but soon got up on his own power and walked to a cart, which took him off the field.Al-Shaair was ejected for the hit and given a three-game suspension, which was upheld on appeal.

Miami receiver Grant DuBose was taken off the field on a stretcher after a helmet-to-helmet hit against the Houston Texans on Sunday.

Related video above: Maine high school football player pledges to donate brain to science to help improve game safety

Advertisement

DuBose tried to make a catch in the third quarter but was hit in the head by rookie Calen Bullock before his head violently hit the turf. He appeared to clench both fists after the hit — movements consistent with what's referred to as the "fencing response," which can be common after a traumatic brain injury — before remaining motionless as medical personnel rushed to his side.

Bullock was given a flag for unnecessary roughness for hitting a defenseless receiver on the play.

DuBose remained on the field for more than 10 minutes as he was tended to by emergency medical personnel. His jersey was cut off and a neck brace was put on him while players from both teams watched with concern.

At one point, while he was down, the Dolphins moved away from him and into a circle where they kneeled and appeared to be praying. Miami coach Mike McDaniel and Houston coach DeMeco Ryans embraced at one point while he was still on the field.

DuBose was eventually put on a spine board where his arms and legs were strapped down, and he was taken off the field. A tube of some kind was in his mouth, and no movement could be seen as he was taken off the field.

The Dolphins said DuBose has been ruled out with a head injury. He is in stable condition and is being taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.

DuBose was a seventh-round pick last season and returned Sunday after injuring his shoulder early in the season.

It's the second straight Texans game where an opposing player has been injured by an illegal hit to the head after linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair's hit to the head of a sliding Trevor Lawrence gave the quarterback a concussion on Dec. 1.

Lawrence was scrambling in the second quarter of that game. He initiated a slide before Al-Shaair raised his forearm and unleashed on the defenseless quarterback. He also displayed the "fencing response" but soon got up on his own power and walked to a cart, which took him off the field.

Al-Shaair was ejected for the hit and given a three-game suspension, which was upheld on appeal.