Miami Dolphins wide receiver Grant DuBose was transported to a Houston hospital during the team’s game against the Houston Texans on Sunday following a scary hit to his head. The receiver was attempting to catch a pass during the third quarter of the game when Texans safety Calen Bullock tried to break up the play, hitting the receiver in the head. DuBose laid motionless on the field after the hit.

After a delay of more than 12 minutes, DuBose was strapped to a backboard and removed from the field on a stretcher. His helmet, jersey, and shoulder pads had been cut off during treatment by paramedics and team medical staff.

The team released an update on DuBose later in the game, officially ruling him out of the game with a head injury. The release indicated he was transported to the hospital and that he was in stable condition. DuBose saw increased work in the game following an injury to starting wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.

After the game, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was asked about DuBose and provide an update, saying, “So far there has been some positive feedback related to some head and neck imaging. He will stay here overnight, and we will find out more tomorrow.”

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa put the responsibility of not putting his receivers in a position where they can be hurt like that on his own shoulders. After the game, he stated, “That’s very unfortunate, very tough to have seen live. I’m my toughest critic when it comes to ball placement, when it comes to knowing where to go with the ball and all of that. I just feel bad that I even put him in that situation to have gotten hit. It was tough to move on after that happened.”

He continued, relating it to the previous head injuries he has had, including one last season when he had to be taken off the field and taken to a Cincinnati hospital. “I heard some good news that he’s doing well, he’s recovering,” Tagovailoa said. “We all know I’ve gone through something very similar, and that’s no fun. You never want to be put in any of those situations. But you also understand that this is a physical sport, it’s a contact sport, and again, I just think of what I could have done to have not put Grant in that situation.”

The Dolphins claimed DuBose off waivers at the end of the preseason after he was released by the Green Bay Packers. He made one catch against the Buffalo Bills in Week 2, but spent the majority of the season on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. He was activate from IR on Saturday, making him available for Sunday’s game.

Defensive tackle Zach Sieler was asked about the injury to DuBose as well. The defensive captain stated, “Yeah, it’s tough, praying for him and his family. It was his first game back, super excited to see him out there and make some plays. To have that happen, it’s gut wrenching. But I think you’ve got to rally around that and do what we can do to keep playing. I hope he’s all right. We’ll keep praying.”

McDaniel was asked how the team gets refocused on football after something like the injury to DuBose occurs. He explained, “There’s no real formula. It’s always difficult. I think it’s difficult for both teams in those scenarios. There’s nothing I can say. You have a lot of prideful guys that are trying to go back to work, and I think that motivated by just knowing Grant and how he’d want us to finish the game. I think it’s unfortunately something that you have to go through once in a while in the game. It’s not easy. Our hearts, our thoughts and prayers are with him.”

The Dolphins lost to the Texans 20-12. They next face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, December 22, in Miami.