SPORTS BRONCOS DB SAYS HE WAS BRIEFLY PARALYZED
His neck brace sitting next to his locker stall on Tuesday, Broncos cornerback De’Vante Bausby recounted his injury during Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
In the first half, Bausby was getting ready to make a tackle when inside linebacker Alexander Johnson collided with him, jamming his neck. Bausby immediately fell backward and was motionless while being placed on a back-board and then carted to an ambulance.
“They said I was paralyzed for the first 30 minutes,” he said. “I was awake the whole time. I was never unconscious, I just couldn’t move. But I was still talking and everything and the doctor said I’ll be fine and I trusted him and after 30 minutes, I was able to wiggle my toes and after a couple hours, I gained full mobility.”
Asked he if was ever frightened, Bausby said: “Not really. I was able to talk (during the process) so I was calm and I trusted what our doctor was saying.”
Bausby was transported from the hospital to a Los Angeles hospital for a battery of tests.
“The spinal cord basically got banged and reacted by shutting down,” said Dr. Neel Anand, professor of orthopedic surgery and director of spine trauma at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Spine Center. “It doesn’t matter (if feeling is lost) for five, 20, 30 minutes, it does indicate he had some kind of spinal cord contusion.”
Anand said Bausby likely had Xrays, an MRI and possibly at CT scan once he arrived at the hospital. Among the things doctors look for is a ligament injury, a potential bone spur that is pinching the spinal cord and if Bausby has a condition called “spinal stenosis,” a narrowing of the spinal column.
Once cleared, Bausby met the Broncos’ charter for the flight back to Denver.
“I was ready to get out of Los Angeles and the trauma center,” he said. “I was happy to rejoin my team for the plane ride back here.”
On Tuesday afternoon the Broncos placed Bausby on the season-ending injured reserve list and signed veteran cornerback Coty Sensabaugh. Bausby hasn’t been given an indication of when he can resume playing.
“I’m just moving slow,” he said. “Right now, we’re going to take it really slow and just gain my strength my back.”
Signed after the Alliance of American Football folded during the NFL offseason, Bausby made the 53-man roster and took over the No. 2 cornerback duties from Issac Yiadom during the Week 3 loss at Green Bay. Bausby started against Jacksonville and the Chargers the past two weeks.
“When you get an opportunity (to play), you want to take it and run and not be sidelined,” cornerback Chris Harris said. “That’s the only thing (Bausby)issadabout,buthe’sgoing to bounce back. Everything’s looking good for him. I’m just glad he’s healthy.”
Minus Bausby and still without Bryce Callahan (foot), the Broncos added Sensabaugh. The 30-year old has 101 games of experience with Tennessee, the New York Giants, the Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh. He spent 2017-18 with the Steelers (14 starts).
First for Jackson. Safety Kareem Jackson has seven forced fumbles in 136 career games, but his first for the Broncos was the first of its kind for him. Jackson was able to stop Chargers running back Austin Ekeler short of the goal-line on fourth down and also forced him to fumble through the end zone for a Broncos takeaway.
“It was my first time getting the chance to be in that position to make that type of play,” Jackson said.
Jackson missed the Jacksonville game the week prior because of a hamstring injury.
“I feel pretty good,” he said. “You always have that after-game soreness. Just trying to manage it and stay on top of it so I’ll be good to go this week.”
Footnotes. Outside linebacker Bradley Chubb was in the locker room briefly Tuesday and said he is scheduled to have left knee surgery on Wednesday. … Receiver Emmanuel Sanders had one catch against the Chargers, only the 23rd time in his 140-game regular season/playoff career with one or fewer receptions. “Obviously, I want to be involved,” he said. “I’m a competitor. I work hard during the week, but sometimes, it just doesn’t go my way. I’m just going to keep chugging along.”