Dolphins receiver Grant DuBose hospitalized by helmet-to-helmet hit. An update on status

Miami Dolphins receiver Grant DuBose avoided the worst-case scenario on Sunday when a head-to-head hit left him on the ground for 12 minutes and resulted in him being taken to a Houston hospital.

“There’s positive feedback with head and neck imaging,” coach Mike McDaniel said after the game, adding that he would stay in a Houston hospital on Sunday night. The Dolphins say he is in stable condition.

DuBose, a second-year receiver the Dolphins claimed earlier this season off the waiver wire, collided with Houston Texans safety Callen Bullock while trying to catch a low pass from Tua Tagovailoa in the third quarter.

DuBose, who was activated off injured reserve on Saturday after an early-season shoulder injury, lay on the NRG Stadium turf for 12 minutes while a medical team cut his jersey off, placed a brace around his neck, placed electronic monitoring medical equipment on his chest, and strapped him to a stretcher.

While a team of EMTs and trainers placed DuBose on the stretcher, his entire team huddled around a circle praying.

Tagovailoa, who has dealt with several concussions in his career, said “I heard some good news that he’s doing well and recovering. We all know I’ve gone through something very similar and that’s no fun. You never want to be put in those situations. But it’s a physical sport, contact sport. I think what I could have done to not put Grant in that situation.”

DuBose was playing more than expected in Sunday’s game because of a right knee injury Jaylen Waddle sustained in the first quarter, which opened the window for DuBose to play offense in his first NFL game since Week 2, when he initially sustained his shoulder injury. Waddle did not return to the game, and McDaniel had no update on his status afterward.

With Waddle and DuBose out, the Dolphins used River Cracraft alongside Tyreek Hill and rookie Malik Washington.

Miami also leaned on the team’s two-back, and two tight end sets when the game resumed.

The Dolphins claimed DuBose off waivers from the Green Bay Packers in late August. McDaniel noted that a recommendation from Packers coach Matt LaFleur was a factor in that decision. DuBose entered Sunday with one reception for three yards in two games.

“I’m just glad he’s good; that’s what we were playing for,” tight end Jonnu Smith said. “When I saw what he was dealing with, I immediately went into prayer.”

Calais Campbell said these types of incidents “are always super scary. Everything looks good so far on the scans. That makes you feel a lot better about the situation.”