Green Bay Packers running back Jamal Williams has been transported to a hospital after taking a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit from Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Derek Barnett on Thursday night.
On the Packers’ first offensive play of the night, multiple Eagles defenders were already in the process of bringing Williams down, when Barnett came out of nowhere and gave Williams a brutal hit to the head.
https://twitter.com/ftbeard_17/status/1177380701538156546
https://twitter.com/ftbeard_17/status/1177381277583822853
Williams was taken off the field on a stretcher, before being taken to a local hospital to be evaluated for head and neck injuries.
Packers’ RB Jamaal Williams is being transported to a local hospital after being stretchered off the field, per @ESPNMichele. 🙏
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 27, 2019
Williams is (obviously) not returning to the game, but the Packers report that he at least has feeling and movement in all of his extremities.
Williams has been ruled out for the game. He does have feeling & movement in all of his extremities. https://t.co/ag28xZ5iqm
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 27, 2019
There’s no place in the sport for a hit like this, and what makes it especially awful is that it was so unnecessary. Three Eagles defenders were already in the process of bringing Williams down. It also seems pretty unfair that Barnett is allowed to stay in the game, while Williams has to leave and with potentially serious head/neck injuries in the process. The NFL will at least fine Barnett, but it will be interesting to see if a suspension is included in the punishment.
