Panthers offensive lineman taken to Detroit hospital with neck injury

DETROIT — A frightening incident unfolded during the first half of Sunday’s Detroit Lions-Carolina Panthers game at Ford Field, as Panthers offensive lineman Chandler Zavala was carted off the field with a neck injury. A spokesman for the Panthers stated that Zavala is being taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.

Zavala suffered the injury with 4:44 left in the first quarter. He initially appearing to be lying face down and motionless. The severity of the injury was significant, prompting the entire Panthers roster to leave the sideline and gather around Zavala, taking a knee as the medical staff attended to him.

After a stoppage lasting several minutes, the game resumed. Once Zavala was placed onto the cart, players from both the Panthers and Lions approached to offer their well wishes as he was transported off the field. As he departed, Zavala raised his arm in the air, eliciting cheers from the fans at Ford Field, indicating that he was at least somewhat okay.