Eagles Rookie Ja’Quinden Jackson Taken to Hospital After Scary Injury in Preseason Game

What Happened?

During a preseason football game on Saturday night, Philadelphia Eagles running back Ja’Quinden Jackson was seriously injured and had to leave the stadium in an ambulance. Here’s a simple breakdown of what went down:

• When: Saturday night (preseason game)
• Where: Gillette Stadium (home of the New England Patriots)
• Who: Ja’Quinden Jackson, a rookie running back for the Eagles
• What: He got hurt on the very first play of the game — the opening kickoff

How the Injury Happened

1. The Play: It was the opening kickoff. Jackson ran down the field to tackle the Patriots’ return man, Lan Larison.
2. The Hit: Jackson dove at Larison’s legs to make the tackle.
3. The Contact: As he dove, Jackson took a knee to the head from Larison.
4. The Result: Jackson was knocked out cold. His body stiffened up — both arms went straight out in what doctors call the "fencing position" (a sign of a serious head injury).

Important: The fencing position happens when the brain gets shaken badly. It’s a red flag that medical teams take very seriously.

Immediate Medical Response

The medical staff acted fast — and it made a big difference:

• Right away: Trainers and doctors ran onto the field.
• Stabilized: They put Jackson on a backboard (to protect his neck and spine) and then onto a stretcher.
• Ambulance on the field: An actual ambulance drove onto the grass to take him away — not a cart, a real ambulance.
• Team support: The entire Eagles team came onto the field to surround Jackson, take a knee, and wish him well before he left. It was a powerful moment of unity.

Official Update from the Eagles

The team released a statement shortly after:

“Jackson has strength and movement in all extremities and is being taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.”

What That Means (In Plain English):

• He can move his arms and legs.
• He has feeling and strength in all four limbs.
• He still needs more tests at the hospital to make sure everything is okay — especially his head and neck.

This is very good news considering how scary it looked.

Why This Matters

• Preseason games don’t count for wins/losses, but players still go 100% to make the team.
• Jackson is a rookie (first-year player) trying to earn a spot on the roster.
• Head and neck injuries are taken extremely seriously in today’s NFL — and for good reason.
• The fact that he has movement and strength is a huge positive sign.

Summary

• Ja’Quinden Jackson, an Eagles rookie running back, was knocked unconscious on the opening kickoff of a preseason game.
• He took a knee to the head while making a tackle and showed the fencing position — a sign of a serious concussion or brain injury.
• Medical staff responded immediately, immobilized him, and transported him via ambulance to a hospital.
• The entire Eagles team gathered to support him before he left.
• The Eagles confirmed he has movement and strength in all limbs, which is a very encouraging sign.
• He’s now undergoing further evaluation at a local hospital.

FAQ

What is the "fencing position"?

It’s when a person’s arms stiffen and stick straight out after a hard hit to the head. It’s a neurological response that signals a possible serious brain injury. Doctors treat it as an emergency.

Why did an ambulance come onto the field?

Because Jackson was unconscious and had a potential neck/spine injury. An ambulance has the equipment and space to keep him completely still and safe during transport — safer than a golf cart.

Is he going to be okay?

We don’t know for sure yet, but the fact that he has strength and movement in all arms and legs is a very good sign. He’s at the hospital getting scanned (like a CT or MRI) to check for bleeding or swelling.

What’s a preseason game?

It’s a practice game before the real season starts. Teams use them to evaluate players, especially rookies like Jackson, to decide who makes the final roster.

Will he play again this year?

Too early to say. His health comes first. The NFL has strict concussion protocols — he can’t return until he’s fully cleared by independent doctors.

Thinking of Ja’Quinden — the whole football world is pulling for a full and fast recovery.