HOUSTON — Grant DuBose, a wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins, is currently in stable condition at a hospital and is undergoing additional evaluations following a concerning helmet-to-helmet collision during the game against the Houston Texans on Sunday. Coach Mike McDaniel provided an update, mentioning, “There’s been some positive feedback related to some head and neck imaging. He will remain here overnight, and we’ll find out more by Monday.”
The incident occurred in the third quarter when DuBose attempted to make a reception. He was struck in the head by rookie Calen Bullock, causing him to violently collide with the ground. After the hit, he was seen clenching his fists—a reaction often associated with a traumatic brain injury—before becoming immobile as medical staff quickly arrived to assist.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa expressed his distress over the situation, stating, “It was very tough to see live. I’m my toughest critic when it comes to ball placement and decision-making. I just feel bad that I put him in a situation that led to that hit. It was difficult to move on after that.”
Bullock received a penalty for unnecessary roughness for his role in the incident. He shared his feelings, saying, “I was praying that he would be okay. I didn’t intend to harm anyone out there.”
Emergency medical personnel treated DuBose on the field for over ten minutes, during which his jersey was removed, and a neck brace was applied. Notably, players from both teams gathered to offer prayers, reflecting the serious nature of the event. At one point, McDaniel was seen sharing an embrace with Texans coach DeMeco Ryans as they both monitored the situation.
DuBose was carefully placed on a spine board, secured, and transported off the field without any visible movement. Tagovailoa, who has faced similar experiences with concussions in his career, expressed empathy for his teammate, recalling a previous incident where he too was taken off the field on a stretcher. “We all know that I’ve gone through something similar, and that’s no fun,” he commented. “You never want to be in that position, but you realize this is a physical sport where contact is inevitable. I can’t help but think about what I could have done differently to protect Grant.”
Ryans acknowledged the difficulty both teams faced in continuing the game after witnessing DuBose’s injury, stating, “Seeing a player down like that is very hard, and we’re just praying for his swift recovery.”
McDaniel echoed these sentiments, admitting that it is challenging to regain focus after such traumatic incidents. “There’s not much that can be said; you have a lot of dedicated players wanting to get back to work, and they feel motivated by knowing how Grant would want us to finish the game. Unfortunately, these situations are part of the sport, even if they are not easy to handle.”
DuBose, a seventh-round pick last year, was making his return after a shoulder injury sidelined him earlier in the season. This incident marks the second consecutive game for the Texans where an opposing player has suffered an injury due to an illegal head hit. In a previous game, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair received a three-game suspension for a similar hit against quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who had been sliding when the contact occurred.
As the NFL continues to grapple with safety in its physical environment, incidents like these highlight the ongoing challenges faced by players and teams alike.
