Packers-Patriots Suspended After Serious Injury
GREEN BAY, Wis. – In the long history of football, never has an NFL preseason game felt more meaningless than the Green Bay Packers’ game against the New England Patriots on Saturday night at Lambeau Field.
With 10:29 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Packers looking to rally, Green Bay’s Sean Clifford completed a pass to Malik Heath to convert a key third down. On the play, Isaiah Bolden, a rookie cornerback from Jackson State, was hit by teammate Calvin Munson. With Bolden lying motionless on the field, it was obvious immediately that this wasn’t just any other injury.
The trainers rushed onto the field. Several minutes later, Bolden was carted off the field, his arms immobilized. Anyone hoping to see a hopeful thumbs-up signal was disappointed.
By Sunday morning, the news was much more encouraging. In a statement released by the Patriots: "After undergoing a series of evaluations and being held for overnight observations, Patriots cornerback Isaiah Bolden has been released from the Aurora Bay Medical Center in Green Bay."
The Patriots were set to fly back Foxborough on Sunday rather than go through another set of joint practices at the Tennessee Titans.
While trainers tended to Bolden on Saturday night, Packers coach Matt LaFleur and Patriots coach Bill Belichick talked as their players took a knee. With Bolden taken to the locker room, LaFleur and Belichick walked to the Patriots’ huddle. Moments later, via Commissioner Roger Goodell, it was announced the game had been suspended.
“Obviously, a very scary ending to the game right there,” LaFleur said. “Thoughts and prayers to Isaiah Bolden and his family. That’s a scary situation, one that you never want to see in our game.
“I thought it was in the best interests for both teams. Coach Belichick and I talked on the field to take the action that we took. There’s a lot of good work that we’ve had over the last couple days but it’s hard to think about much of that. Just hope that young man’s going to be OK.”
Matt LaFleur, after the game was suspended. (Photo by Mark Hoffman/USA Today Sports Images)
Following the announcement, the fans quietly applauded and left. Perhaps never has a crowd of tens of thousands of people been so silent as they headed for the exits.
The scoreboard read Patriots 21, Packers 17. It was the most irrelevant score imaginable. At least Bolden had feeling in his extremities.
“The big picture overrode the game,” Belichick said. “We’re all saying a prayer for Isaiah. I appreciate the way the league handled it. I think that was the right thing to do.”
As for the game, Packers quarterbacks Jordan Love and Clifford continued their strong preseasons.
Playing three series, Love completed 5-of-8 passes for 84 yards and one touchdown. His final pass of the night was a 19-yard touchdown to Jayden Reed. With AJ Dillon stopping a blitzer in his tracks, Love threw a dart to the impressive rookie receiver, who caught the ball at the 5, broke a tackle and scored.
Clifford, who went 20-of-26 with two touchdowns and two interceptions at Cincinnati last week, was 8-of-11 for 78 yards in the first half. His three possessions produced a touchdown – Patrick Taylor avoided former first-round pick Josh Uche and scored on an 8-yard run – and a 52-yard field goal by Anders Carlson on the final play of the half. At that point, six of his 11 preseason possessions had resulted in points for the Packers.
Patrick Taylor celebrates his touchdown. (Photo by Tork Mason/USA Today Sports Images)
Among the first-half highlights: Romeo Doubs made a superb 42-yard catch along the sideline to spark Love’s touchdown drive. The longest of Doubs’ 42 catches as a rookie went for only 26 yards. Clifford’s touchdown drive was kick-started by a sack-strip by second-year outside linebacker Kingsley Enagbare. And Carlson made his two extra points and a field goal.
Of course, preseason outcomes are largely irrelevant – this one especially given how it ended. For the Packers, who are entering a new era following the offseason trade of Aaron Rodgers, this preseason is all about Love. In two games, he’s 12-of-18 passing for 139 yards with two touchdowns. After throwing two interceptions during Thursday’s practice, Love wasn’t close to an interception on Saturday, though he and center Josh Myers botched a shotgun snap on the first series.
It’s also about Love’s fleet of young receivers. Doubs’ long catch was a thing of beauty. The officials initially ruled him out of bounds but LaFleur challenged and, sure enough, Doubs did manage to get his left foot down while being pulled out of bounds. Reed, the second of the team’s second-round picks, used speed to get open and continued his impressive summer by taking his first Lambeau Leap.
The Patriots took a 21-17 lead on the final play of the third quarter when second-year quarterback Bailey Zappe strolled around right end for a 6-yard touchdown on fourth-and-2. Brenton Cox took his rush inside and was tossed to the ground by the right tackle, which gave Zappe a clear path for the score.
Clifford delivered a response. Given exquisite protection, he delivered a 25-yard strike to Heath, who rose in a crowd to make a play. Back-side slants to Cody Chrest and Heath converted back-to-back third downs. The pass to Heath, however, was the final play of the night.
LaFleur said the team will meet on Sunday to talk through the injury before heading to the practice field on Monday. LaFleur's early thought is Love and Co. will play in next Saturday's preseason finale at Lambeau against Seattle.
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