Eagles Hobbs Has Full Movement After Neck Injury

Posted on Mon, Nov. 22, 2010

One moment, there was a roar of excitement.

The next, there was silence.

The quiet lasted for 10 minutes, too, as medical personnel worked on Eagles returner Ellis Hobbs, who was injured on the second-half kickoff.

After the long, anxious delay, Hobbs left the field on a stretcher, raising both fists to salute the crowd in Lincoln Financial Field.

Most of the crowd was on its feet, cheering for Hobbs.

The Eagles announced that Hobbs had suffered a neck injury but that he had full movement of all extremities and that X-rays on his neck were negative.

Hobbs was hurt as he was returning the kickoff in the Eagles' 27-17 win. He was spun around by Giants defensive back Brian Jackson, lowered his head, and collided, helmet to helmet, with Giants defensive end Dave Tollefson.

Tollefson, whose head also was lowered, was not penalized on the play. The NFL announced in October it would crack down on helmet-to-helmet hits with increased fines and possible suspensions, especially on defenseless players.

Late in the first half, Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel was hit with a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness for a helmet-to-helmet hit with Giants wide receiver Derek Hagan.

The Linc was buzzing with excitement at the start of the second half, as the Eagles held a 13-3 lead over the Giants in the nationally televised battle for first place in the NFC East.

On the kickoff return, Hobbs' head was down and the hit from Tollefson appeared to make impact at the top of Hobbs' helmet. Hobbs collapsed to the ground and fumbled the football, although the Eagles' Clay Harbor recovered.

Hobbs lay motionless on the field. The stadium went quiet.

Eventually, the entire Eagles team came on the field to form a semicircle around Hobbs as he was treated by medical personnel.

Hobbs was on his stomach for most of his time on the ground. He was rolled over by medical personnel and placed on a support board, then moved to a stretcher.

The 5-foot-9, 195-pound Hobbs is a sixth-year player from Iowa State. He spent the first four years of his career with New England and was acquired by the Eagles in a trade from the Patriots before the 2009 season.

Hobbs started the first seven games this season at left cornerback. He was sidelined by a hip injury and replaced in the starting lineup by Dimitri Patterson.
Contact staff writer Phil Anastasia at 856-779-3223 or panastasia[@]phillynews.com.