Philadelphia Eagles running back Ja'Quinden Jackson was taken off the field in an ambulance after he was injured on the opening kickoff of preseason Week 2 against the New England Patriots. The 24-year-old remained down on the field after the play, and medical staff worked on him before he was loaded onto a stretcher and into the back of the ambulance.
The play came when Jackson dove at Lan Larison's knees, flipped him over and took a knee to the head. Members of both teams took a knee on the field as Jackson was treated, and the entire Eagles team later came onto the field to wish him well before he left the stadium. Patriots players and fans at Gillette Stadium also cheered and applauded as the second-year running back was taken away.
Jackson's injury drew attention because it happened immediately on the opening kickoff of a preseason game, before he had a chance to build any momentum with the Eagles. He signed with the team on Aug. 10 after going undrafted out of Arkansas in 2025, spent his first season on the Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad and did not record a touch in the Eagles' first 2026 preseason game.
There was a brief sign of relief in the middle of the concern. Scott Zolak said he saw Jackson moving his hands while he was receiving medical attention, and the Eagles later said he had strength and movement in all extremities.
Even so, the team still sent him to a local hospital for further evaluation, and that leaves the hardest question unanswered: what kind of injury this was and how much time, if any, Jackson will miss. For a player trying to carve out a role without a regular-season carry at the NFL level, the next update matters as much as the hit itself.
