Atlanta Falcons rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels experienced a concerning incident last week at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He was stretchered off the field following a hit, leaving viewers worried about his condition. Remarkably, one week later, Daniels not only returned to play but made a crucial play that helped the Falcons defeat the previously undefeated San Francisco 49ers.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Falcons held a nine-point lead, which was unexpected given the 49ers’ strong season start. Less than a minute remained when 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy found tight end George Kittle wide open for a pass. However, Falcons safety Jessie Bates III managed to trip Kittle, causing Kittle to fumble as he attempted to regain balance. Daniels wasted no time, diving for the ball to secure the win for the Falcons, improving their season record to 3-5 and handing the 49ers their first loss.
Daniels’ contribution didn’t stop at recovering the fumble. He achieved a career-high 11 tackles during the game, with nine solo efforts. Additionally, he intercepted a Purdy pass after perfectly timing a jump, almost taking it back for a pick-six before being forced out of bounds. The Falcons defense forced four turnovers that day, displaying a strong team effort.
The previous week, Daniels faced a tough moment against the Chicago Bears. His neck snapped back following a collision with tight end Colston Loveland’s knee, leading to a halt in play for about 10 minutes. While Daniels was in pain, he stayed conscious and moved his extremities. After being stretchered off as a precaution, he was cleared for practice days later, preparing for his crucial role against the 49ers.
In an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Daniels acknowledged the alarming nature of his injury. “I scared a lot of people. It was a scary play,” he said. “I’m blessed to come out how I did.” His focus now turns to next week’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who recently triumphed over the Carolina Panthers.
Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.