New York Jets receive encouraging news about injured offensive lineman

The New York Jets received some encouraging news after a scary moment during Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In the third quarter, backup offensive lineman Xavier Newman was carried off the field after suffering a neck injury, requiring paramedics to strap him to a backboard and take him to a local hospital that had a world-class trauma center.

After Jets quarterback Aaron Rogers threw his second interception of the game, Steelers cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. returned the field. Newman tried to help make a play but was blocked by Steelers defenseman Patrick Queen. The pair collided into helmets and Newman landed on the ground. His head seemed to fly back and hit the ground uncontrollably.

After Bishop was tackled at the 1-yard line, the game was stopped for several minutes while trainers and local medics attended to Newman. Players from both teams gathered in the area.

“The first thing they did was stabilize his neck. He’s conscious,” said NBC sideline reporter Melissa Stark.

Later in the game, NBC reported that he showed movement in his extremities and that he was able to squeeze a medic’s hand.

After the game, Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich had more encouraging news when he told reporters that Newman would return to New York with the team after the game and that tests conducted on him, including X-rays, came back negative.

“This is a big relief,” said Ulbrich.

Newman was in the game because starting right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker left the game in the second quarter after suffering an ankle injury. When Newman left the game, Jake Hanson came in to play the rest of the game.

Newman is in his third season in the NFL after playing his college football for Baylor University. Before signing with the Jets this offseason, he was a member of the Tennessee Titans from 2022-23.

New York was decimated by injuries on the other side of the ball on Sunday, as they lost safety Tony Adams in the first half and safety Ashtyn Davis in the second half.

Adams suffered a hamstring injury while Davis was placed in the protocol for a concussion.

The position group was already without three starters — safety Chuck Clark, cornerback Michael Carter II and cornerback DJ Reed, the last of whom was declared inactive just before the game. Clark is on injured reserve and cannot return for at least three more weeks.