Sunday night’s matchup between the Jets and Steelers faced a temporary delay due to a concerning injury to New York offensive lineman Xavier Newman.
In the third quarter, Newman was struck hard by Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen while Beanie Bishop was making his second interception of the game. Newman fell backward, and it seemed he hit the back of his head on the field as he went down.
Newman came into the game after guard Alijah Vera-Tucker left for the locker room due to his own injury. The former Titans lineman, who has five NFL starts under his belt, had only played on special teams before taking over for Vera-Tucker.
Here’s the latest update on Newman’s condition following the frightening hit.
Xavier Newman’s Injury Update Following Scary Hit
Newman took a tough hit from Queen, but the most alarming aspect was how his head struck the ground as he fell. His neck seemed to snap back, prompting medical personnel to quickly surround him.
Newman remained on the ground for several minutes before being stabilized and put on a backboard. He was officially ruled out with a neck injury soon after being stretchered off the field.
According to the NBC broadcast, Newman was conscious during stabilization and reportedly regained movement in his hands shortly after. He was then taken to a local hospital.
The 25-year-old Newman is a former undrafted free agent who played all five seasons of his college career at Baylor before joining the Titans in 2022.