Foxborough, Mass. — Two plays into his first start as a member of the Detroit Lions, defensive back Saivion Smith had to be taken off the field at Gillette stadium by ambulance, strapped to a backboard.
Smith is being transported to a local hospital to be evaluated for a neck injury.
On the play where he suffered the injury, Smith went down after getting tangled with Patriots tight end Hunter Henry near the line of scrimmage. It wasn't immediately clear exactly how Smith was injured. According to the broadcast on Fox, Smith's father came on to the field and was able to get into the ambulance and join his son.