Alexander Mattison, the 28-year-old running back for the Miami Dolphins, just got a major neck injury. That’s exactly what happened during a joint practice between the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears on Saturday. The injury happened when he was brought down on a 21-yard completion on the third play of the game. After the attack, emergency medical responders rushed him by ambulance to a nearby hospital for urgent care.
Before his injury, Mattison showcased his skills on the field by running in a touchdown, putting the Dolphins on the scoreboard early in the game. His inspiring performance got Portland fans excited about what he would bring to the team in the coming years. That happiness turned into panic when he exited the field in agony.
After arrival to the hospital, Mattison had 6 hours of surgery to repair a deteriorated neck injury. The Dolphins have made it official that he won’t be back this year. This last injury is a tough blow considering his encouraging debut season with the Fire.
Mattison’s NFL career started under former Dolphins head coach Mike Zimmer with the Minnesota Vikings, where he spent five seasons before coming down to Miami. His last year with the Las Vegas Raiders, he saw action in 14 games. He took the field for an average of 7 starts, proving a dependable performer. During his career, he scored 15 rushing touchdowns and rushed for a total of 2,790 yards. On top of that, he added another 136 receptions for 1,012 yards and seven receiving touchdowns.
The Dolphins will now need to reassess their running back depth as they prepare for the challenges ahead in the upcoming season. With Mattison’s absence, the Bulldogs will feel the loss immensely as they’ll miss the big back’s contributions all over the field.
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