Bears rookie safety Brandon Hardin was carted off the filed with a neck injury and transported to a local hospital for tests Saturday night.
Initial indications are that Hardin didn’t suffer a major injury, and he’s got full use of his extremities.
“Whenever you see a player taken off on a stretcher, it’s not a good thing. We think Brandon Hardin will be OK,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “He’s moving everything. He’s alert, and conscious throughout.”
Hardin was injured early in the third quarter, when he appeared to lead with his head while trying to tackle Washington Redskins tight end Logan Paulsen after a 19-yard catch. Paulsen is listed at 6 foot 5, 261 pounds.
Players immediately waved over team medical officials, and coach Lovie Smith also came near the young player. Hardin was placed on a flat board, placed on a cart and transported to a hospital for further tests.
“It comes with the territory, and you hope it doesn’t happen to anyone, especially one of your teammates. It’s a tough thing,” Bears cornerback Kelvin Hayden said. “I haven’t heard the prognosis or anything, but you never want to see a guy carted off the field, and not walking off on his own will. Hopefully, he gets real and has a speedy recovery.”
Later in the third quarter, Hardin was ruled out of the game with a neck injury.
A third-round pick, Hardin missed the entire 2011 season with a shoulder injury. During training camp, he showcased his unique combination of size (6 foot 3, 217 pounds) and speed, as well as his background as a cornerback.
UPDATE: ”Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers,” Hardin wrote on his Twitter page. “I can’t give an exact update, but the good news is that I’m gonna be ok. And we won!”
