Colts' Brandon Williams Diagnosed With Concussion, Out of Hospital
Colts tight end Brandon Williams has been released from the hospital and diagnosed with a concussion after he was injured during Indianapolis' 23-15 loss to the Broncos on Thursday night. He is not currently believed to have suffered an injury to his spine or neck.
Coach Chuck Pagano said Williams, who was injured while blocking during a punt in the second quarter, is back with the team's medical staff.
"It was a pretty scary thing ... but he's back here," Pagano said after the game, per ESPN's Mike Wells. "He's doing well."
Play was stopped for multiple minutes as Williams lie on the ground virtually motionless. He suffered the injury while trying to keep Broncos linebacker Deiontrez Mount from blocking the punt and had to be stretchered off the field.
In 2011, Williams was diagnosed with spinal stenosis—a narrowing of the spine— as a senior at Oregon, an injury he was told would keep him from furthering his football career. But an MRI in 2013 showed that the condition had improved, which allowed Williams to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Panthers and spent three years there before stints with the Dolphins and Seahawks.
He joined the Colts before this season and has served as the primary backup tight end to Jack Doyle. Williams has amassed nine catches for 121 yards on the year.
Injuries to the head and neck area have become a particular concern since the Steelers' Ryan Shazier suffered a spinal injury on Monday night of Week 13. Shazier remains in the hospital after undergoing spinal stabilization surgery.
