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Atlanta Falcons rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels left Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears strapped to a stretcher, his neck braced, in the third quarter and the club ruled him out with a neck injury.
Daniels went low to bring down tight end Colston Loveland after a catch midway through the third quarter, at 8:48, and his facemask struck the side of Loveland’s left knee. He stayed on the turf for several minutes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium while trainers secured his head and neck, cut away his jersey and lifted him onto a cart. Players knelt nearby, and Falcons teammates and coaches came over to him before the cart drove off. Chicago led 21-7 at the time.
Hard to watch this stuff. Hope he's alright. https://t.co/bDG20DlZ0k
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 18, 2026
What is known about his condition
The early signs were encouraging. Daniels was conscious as he left and was seen moving a hand, and Falcons beat writer Josh Kendall reported shortly afterward that he had full movement in his arms and legs.
Kendal Daniels has full movement in his arms and legs, according to the Fox broadcast.
— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) October 18, 2026
Zach Klein, a television reporter in Atlanta, reported that Daniels was taken to a hospital only as a precaution and said he had been told the rookie was “fine” and moving around. The Falcons themselves had not given an update beyond ruling him out when this story was published, and there is no word yet on tests or a timeline. This story will be updated when the club says more.
Two green-dot linebackers lost in one game
The injury hits the middle of Atlanta’s defense twice over. Veteran linebacker Divine Deablo had already left Sunday’s game with an arm injury, and Daniels was wearing the green-dot helmet, the one with the radio that carries the defensive calls from the sideline, when he went down. Josh Woods took over the calls for the rest of the afternoon.
Daniels, 23, was a fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma in April and has started every game for the Falcons since the opener. Losing him and Deablo together would leave Raheem Morris’s staff with real questions about who starts at linebacker next week.
It was already an anxious day for Atlanta’s medical staff. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr., cleared from a rib injury before kickoff, visited the medical tent in the first quarter before returning to the game.
What comes next
The Falcons host the San Francisco 49ers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 25, at 1 p.m. EDT. Their first injury report of the week, due Wednesday, will show whether Daniels and Deablo can practice. Follow every designation on our NFL injuries page and in the Bears-Falcons Game Center.
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