Ottawa Redblacks wide receiver Jaelon Acklin was forced to leave Saturday's game against the BC Lions on a stretcher after he went up for a catch and then crashed awkwardly to the turf.
"Acklin is conscious, and has full movement in all his extremities," the Redblacks said in a statement. "He has been taken to hospital for further evaluation."
The play happened with just over eight minutes left in the fourth quarter when Acklin jumped up in the endzone for a high pass and had his feet undercut by Lions defensive back T.J. Lee. Acklin then crashed to the turf and landed hard on his back.
Acklin stayed on the turf for several minutes as the training staff attended to him. An ambulance was eventually brought onto the field and Acklin was placed on a stability board before being loaded onto a stretcher and into the ambulance.
“I think you’re just hoping that he’s OK,” said Ottawa quarterback Dru Brown after the game.
“It’s a very humbling moment. You know, we’re so focused on winning the game and doing our job and, yeah, it’s kind of the sad reality of what we do and that’s kind of the risk we take.”
The 29-year-old Acklin had three catches for 43 yards and a touchdown before he was forced to leave.
— With files from the Canadian Press
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