The sight of a player being carted off on a stretcher is enough to make any fan lose their lunch. When Kendal Daniels went down during the 31-23 loss to Chicago, it looked like the worst possible outcome for the rookie linebacker. But the news coming out of Flowery Branch on Wednesday changed the entire vibe of the week. Seeing Daniels back on the practice field is the shot in the arm this defense desperately needs.
The details of the hit were genuinely terrifying. According to Sports Illustrated, the injury happened when Daniels’ facemask hit the knee of Bears tight end Colston Loveland during a screen play. Daniels even shared the scary reality of the moment, saying, “The screen came down. It was the top of my head. It was a pain in my neck, and I just took a knee.” It’s the kind of play that stays with you. He even tried to stand up before the pain forced him back down, per Sports Illustrated.
The Path From Hospital to Practice Field
The recovery speed here is nothing short of incredible. After that collision, Daniels was sent to Grady Memorial Hospital for evaluation. It is easy to spiral when you see a player needing emergency medical care, but the updates since then have been nothing but positive. Yahoo Sports reported that the team confirmed he had movement in all his extremities. He even returned to the stadium later that night to be with his teammates.
By Wednesday, the rookie was a full participant in the first practice of the week. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Daniels is “Doing a lot better,” according to the Atlanta Falcons. That’s the kind of news you want to hear when the schedule is getting heavy. He isn’t even in the NFL’s concussion protocol, which is a massive win for the coaching staff.
A Massive Boost for a Thin Defense
The Falcons cannot afford to lose players like Daniels right now. The linebacker room is already hurting. According to the Atlanta Falcons, Divine Deablo did not participate in Wednesday’s practice because of a forearm injury. You can’t lose your ascending rookie and your veteran depth at the same time. Daniels has been a force, recording 22 tackles and one sack through the first six games, per Yahoo Sports.
The defensive unit is also dealing with issues at cornerback. While A.J. Terrell Jr. was a limited participant on Wednesday, the team is still waiting to see if he can play. The 49ers are coming to town on Sunday, October 25, and they are undefeated. You need every playmaker available to stop a team that is 6-0. Daniels is already looking ahead to the matchup, telling Sports Illustrated, “Yeah, for sure. It could be. Just listening to Jake and all those guys and just waiting on what they say.”