HURTS AVOIDS INJURY AFTER GAME
A railing along the north tunnel at FedEx Field collapsed Sunday, sending multiple fans toppling to the ground and nearly taking out Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts as he walked off the field.
The incident happened following the Washington Football Team’s 2016 loss to the Eagles, after most players had left the field and many fans had exited the stadium.
Hurts, who had just completed on-field interviews, was headed back toward the visitors’ locker room when a crowd of Eagles fans awaited him alongside the tunnel railing.
“The Washington Football Team is aware of an incident in the North Field Tunnel following today’s game,” the team said in a statement. “To our knowledge, everyone involved was offered onsite medical evaluation and left the stadium of their own accord. We’re very glad no one appears to have been seriously injured. The safety of our fans and guests is of the utmost importance and we are looking into what occurred.”
According to a Washington team spokesperson, the area where the railing collapsed is the stadium’s ADA-accessible section, which is designed to hold up to six wheelchairs and six companions but is not built to carry a full load of fans. The team did not address why so many fans were in the section before the railing collapsed.
Hurts sidestepped the railing and the handful of fans who fell to the ground. He stayed to help up those who fell — and then stayed longer as several corralled him for hugs and photos.
“I’m just happy everybody is safe from it,” Hurts told reporters after the game. “It is crazy. It is crazy stuff right there. That was a really dangerous situation. I’m just so happy that everybody bounced back from it. Passionate Eagles fans. I love it.”
Seattle’s Wagner hurt
Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner suffered a knee injury on Detroit’s first play from scrimmage on Sunday in what might have been his final home game with the Seahawks.
Wagner appeared to slip and went down awkwardly trying to defend a screen pass for Jamaal Williams. Wagner was down on the field for a few minutes before walking off on his own.
Wagner tried to re-enter the game, but was sent back to the sideline and later walked to the locker room with a trainer. He never returned to the sideline.
Wagner said during the week he knew it might be his last home game with the Seahawks. He has a $20 million salary cap hit in 2022 with Seattle looking at an offseason of change.
More injuries around the NFL: Titans tight end MyCole Pruitt was carted off the field with a right leg injury after being caught up in a pile while blocking on a run by D’Onta Foreman in the second quarter against Miami. Pruitt’s right foot was bent as he banged on the field. A cart came out quickly, and an air cast was put on Pruitt’s right leg. Titans coach Mike Vrabel was among those who helped tight end off the field and onto the cart.
Dallas receiver Michael Gallup had to be helped off the field after injuring his left knee while scoring the first touchdown for the Cowboys against Arizona. The 21-yard catch by the fourthyear receiver pulled the Cowboys to 10-7 late in the first half.
Washington tight end Ricky Seals-Jones hurt his neck in a nasty collision with a camera operator on the sideline in the second quarter of a home loss to Philadelphia. Seals-Jones had his neck stabilized before he was lifted onto a stretcher and carted off. The cameraman had a cut on his nose but continued to work. Coach Ron Rivera said Seals-Jones was walking around and was OK.
Miami’s playoff hopes end
The Dolphins had been winning so much the playoffs seemed an inevitability in coach Brian Flores’ third season.
Once their history-making seven-game winning streak ended, the Dolphins needed a lot of help to keep those hopes alive only to be eliminated Sunday before their flight home landed.
Tua Tagovailoa turned the ball over twice, once with the ball slipping out of his hands on a cold, rainy day, and the Dolphins (8-8) found themselves routed 34-3 by the Titans to snap their sevengame winning streak Sunday.
Once the Chargers beat Denver, that eliminated Miami along with Cleveland and the Broncos.
“Obviously, if you’re a competitor you’re disappointed,” Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki said immediately after Miami’s loss. “That’s the situation we’re in.”