The New England Patriots released an update on defensive back Isaiah Bolden early Saturday morning. The 23-year-old left Saturday’s preseason game on a cart and was taken to the hospital.
With 10:29 remaining in the contest, Isaiah Bolden was covering Packers wideout Malik Health and collided with fellow teammate Calvin Munson. Bolden remained on the ground for an extended period of time as the medical team arrived on the field. The cornerback was immobilized and taken off the field on a stretcher.
Patriots captain Matthew Slater, Matt LaFleur, and Bill Belichick had an extended talk and decided to call off the game. According to the WBZ broadcasters, Bolden’s eyes were closed as he left the field.
Shortly after the game, Health spoke with the media. “I know him, so I didn’t want to finish the game,” Heath said. “I felt bad, too. It was a good thing we didn’t finish it. It was scary, too. That could’ve happened to me on the hit.”
After the game, players on both sides were shaken as they spoke to the media. “He’s a great teammate,” said JuJu Smith-Schuster. “He’s one of those guys who comes to work every day and just works.
Matthew Slater praised Bill Belichick for his handling of the situation. Slater said it was one of his “proudest moments” as a member of a Bill Belichick-coached team.
The Patriots sent out a positive statement on Sunday morning.
“After undergoing a series of evaluations and being held for overnight observations, Patriots cornerback Isaiah Bolden has been released from the Aurora Bay Medical Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he was transported to after sustaining an on-field injury in the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Green Bay Packers,” the Patriots said in a statement. “Isaiah will travel with the team today. We thank the medical staff at Aurora Bay Medical Center for their overnight evaluations, as well as the Patriots and Packers medical staffs for their immediate on-field response and care in transporting Isaiah to a nearby hospital.”
The Patriots had planned to fly to Nashville after Sunday’s game, where they were supposed to practice with the Titans on Tuesday and Wednesday leading up to the preseason finale Friday night. The Patriots canceled the joint practices and plan to fly back to Foxborough, where they will practice before playing the Titans on Friday.
My name is Ben Belford-Peltzman and I am the creator and writer of The Patriots Beat. I am a 17-year kid who is an optimistic pessimist about the City of Champions. I started The Patriots Beat in August of 2022 and never expected to grow so much but here we are. Feel free to email Thepatriotsbeat@gmail.com with any inquires.
