Jackson discharged from hospital after “MNF” injury

Buffalo Bills cornerback Dane Jackson has been released from the hospital after a neck injury, with the team reporting that he did not suffer any serial neck or spinal problems.

The corner was taken off the field by ambulance during the Bills’ 41-7 win over the Tennessee Titans on Monday night. He underwent a CT scan and X-rays at the hospital and remains undergoing further evaluation Tuesday.

Jackson was transported to Erie County Medical Center after teammate Tremaine Edmunds made inadvertent contact with Jackson’s head and neck area while attempting to assist on the tackle on rookie wide receiver Treylon Burks in the final minute of the second half.

“Definitely a tricky play. I saw the receiver still on pue, trying to finish the play,” Edmunds stated. “A situation like that, obviously I didn’t do it intentionally. I would never try to do something like that to my teammate, but like I said … the receiver was still standing, and I was trying to finish it to the ground, and unfortunately, I ended up hitting Dane.”

Edmunds noted that Jackson flashed a thumbs-up before being led out of the stadium.

The entire Bills team came over from the bench to watch Jackson as he was eventually placed on a stretcher and taken off the field. The game was paused for about 10 minutes while Jackson was treated.

Head coach Sean McDermott had a chance to talk to Jackson in the stadium tunnel at halftime before the cornerback was taken to the hospital.

“It says a lot about the guys, how much they care about each other [that they went out on the field],” McDermott said. “And the game is important and trying to win a game is important, but there are bigger things, especially at the time when your teammate is down and just trying to take care of him in any way possible.”

Safety Damar Hamlin is a close friend and former college teammate of Jackson.

“I felt terrible. I felt like one of my brothers was down,” Hamlin said. “And with the severity of how it happened, it just made it more extreme. Because it didn’t just seem like a regular injury. But, once I talked to him, once he told me he was OK, on the field–we have that kind of bond where he’s going to let me know if anything happens–so I’m praying for him and I know he’s going to be OK.”

Jackson, a 2020 seventh-round draft pick out of Pittsburgh, has been the Bills’ No. 1 corner while Tre’Davious White remains on the reserve/unable to participate list because of physical issues, thanks to a torn ACL. He totaled two knockdowns before leaving the game, and had his second interception of his life during the season-opening win over the Rams. Jackson, 25, started six regular-season and two playoff games in place of White last season.

Rookie corners Christian Benford and Kaiir Elam have been rotating on the opposite side of Jackson, and both played after he left the game.

“Knowing he’s been released from the hospital, prayers for him and his whole family,” wide receiver Stefon Diggs said, “As a team, we’re going to back him up. We’re going to do it for 30. He’s one of our own. We love him, and we just have to put soccer aside sometimes and realize it’s more than that. The guy is actually hurt and it’s about his life. Just sending him a lot of love and a lot of good energy.”