The New England Patriots and their fans can collectively exhale a sigh of relief following the reassuring news about rookie cornerback Isaiah Bolden's condition after a harrowing collision during a preseason matchup against the Green Bay Packers. The incident was serious enough for both teams to agree to cancel the remainder of the game, but the latest updates provide a glimmer of hope amid the concern.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick provided a much-needed update on Bolden's health, indicating that the rookie cornerback traveled back to Foxborough with the team, a positive sign in itself. "He flew back with us [Sunday]," Belichick shared in a recent interview with WEEI. "I talked to Isaiah [on Sunday], and he's in good spirits. Recovering, obviously. So we'll just take it day to day. But he certainly seems a lot better today than it looked like Saturday night, so that's a good thing. It's good for him to fly back with the team and everyone see him. He's got a lot of support here."
The incident occurred in the fourth quarter of the game when Bolden was making a tackle attempt on Packers wide receiver Malik Heath. Unfortunately, during the play, Bolden suffered an unintentional collision with teammate Calvin Munson, taking a hit to the head that left him motionless on the field. Concern for his well-being prompted both teams to agree to cancel the remainder of the game on mutual grounds.
The Patriots' official announcement via social media read, "Upon mutual agreement of the teams, tonight's game between the New England Patriots and the Green Bay Packers has been suspended." The Packers echoed the sentiment with a similar message.
Fortunately, the Patriots soon provided a more positive update on Bolden's condition. The team shared that Bolden had regained feeling in all his extremities and was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. The next day, the Patriots issued a statement revealing that Bolden had been released from the hospital after undergoing thorough evaluations and overnight observation at the Aurora Bay Medical Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Acknowledging the abrupt ending to the game and the circumstances surrounding it, the Patriots announced a change in their schedule. The joint practices they had planned with the Tennessee Titans were canceled. Instead, the team will return to Foxborough, training there before traveling to Nashville for their upcoming game against the Titans.
Bolden, a seventh-round pick out of Jackson State, took to social media to express gratitude for the outpouring of prayers and support he received. He shared that he's looking forward to reuniting with his teammates, proving his resilience, and focusing on the positive steps forward in his recovery journey.
