Ottawa Redblacks’ receiver Jaelon Acklin left Saturday night’s game against the B.C. Lions in an ambulance.
The six-foot-two, 190-pound target was injured midway through the fourth quarter when he leaped to catch a pass from Dru Brown in the end zone. He was hit by veteran defensive back T.J. Lee while still in the air and landed on his upper back before the momentum of his lower body flipped him over onto his stomach.
Acklin momentarily appeared to try to get up before laying motionless on the turf at TD Place Stadium. He remained in that position for several minutes as medical staff tended to him, eventually placing him on a spineboard and stretcher.
The 29-year-old native of Mountain View, Mo. is in his fifth CFL season and third as a member of the Redblacks. He has made 45 catches for 484 yards and three touchdowns through 10 games so far this season.
“Jaelon Acklin is conscious and has movement in all of his extremities,” the Redblacks wrote in a statement approximately 10 minutes after the ambulance left the field. “He has been taken to hospital for further evaluation.”
The Redblacks went on to win the game 34-27, improving to 5-0 at home.
