Broncos WR Pat Bryant Released from Hospital After Scary Injury, Now in Concussion Protocol
There was a tense moment late in the Broncos' 34-20 loss to the Jaguars on Sunday - one that silenced the stadium and left players visibly shaken. On the second-to-last play of the game, rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant took a violent hit from Jaguars cornerback Montaric Brown and stayed down, motionless, after the whistle.
Medical staff rushed to the field, and the scene quickly turned serious. Players from both teams formed a circle around Bryant as he was placed on a spineboard and carted off the field.
Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, clearly emotional, slammed his helmet to the turf. Later, in his postgame press conference, Nix took the hit personally, saying he felt responsible because he threw the pass that led to the collision.
Bryant was taken to a local hospital, where he was evaluated for a possible neck or spine injury. Thankfully, all tests came back negative outside of a confirmed concussion, and he was released later that evening. That’s a huge relief, especially considering how serious the situation looked in real time.
Now, Bryant enters the NFL’s concussion protocol, which means he’s highly unlikely to suit up for Thursday night’s divisional clash against the Kansas City Chiefs. With a short week ahead and player safety being the top priority, the Broncos will almost certainly err on the side of caution.
Looking ahead, Denver wraps up the regular season at home in Week 18 against the Chargers. Whether Bryant will be available for that game remains to be seen, but for now, the focus is on his recovery.
Injuries like this are a stark reminder of how physically demanding and dangerous this game can be. While the scoreboard told one story on Sunday, the real concern was with a young player’s health - and in this case, the news could’ve been much worse. The Broncos, and the entire NFL community, will be hoping for a full and speedy recovery for Pat Bryant.