A frightening scene unfolded during the Philadelphia Eagles’ preseason game Saturday night when running back Ja’Quinden Jackson was taken off the field in an ambulance and rushed to a hospital.
Jackson was injured on the opening kickoff against the New England Patriots and remained motionless on the field after the play ended near the 25-yard line.
Trainers and medical personnel from both teams immediately rushed to his side as concerned players watched from nearby.
Within moments, officials called for a backboard and an ambulance, bringing the game to a standstill.
Players from both teams dropped to a knee near the sideline while Jackson was carefully secured to a stretcher. Eagles teammates then gathered around him before he was loaded into the waiting ambulance.
In one encouraging moment, Jackson appeared to raise his left arm as medical workers attended to him.
The entire Eagles team goes out on the field before Jackson gets put into the ambulance. pic.twitter.com/YOcILyFNRe
— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroNBCS) August 22, 2026
The Eagles later announced that the 24-year-old had strength and movement in all of his extremities. He was transported to a nearby hospital for further evaluation.
It was not immediately clear exactly how Jackson was injured or whether he had been directly involved in the tackle on the kickoff.
The scary incident came just 12 days after Jackson signed with Philadelphia.
Jackson previously spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars after going undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft. Jacksonville waived him during the preseason last year before later signing him to a reserve/future contract in January. He was waived again in May.
Jackson began his college career at Texas before transferring to Utah in 2021. After three seasons with the Utes, he finished his college career at Arkansas.
He has yet to appear in a regular-season NFL game and was hoping to earn a spot with the Eagles when Saturday night’s frightening injury brought the game to a halt.
The Eagles had not immediately announced additional details about his condition beyond confirming that he had movement in all four extremities and was undergoing further evaluation.
