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Dolphins' Grant DuBose Hospitalized with Head Injury After Illegal Hit vs. Texans

Andrew Peters

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 15: Grant DuBose #88 of the Miami Dolphins runs with the ball against the Houston Texans during the first half of an NFL football game at NRG Stadium on December 15, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Grant DuBose was carted off the field Sunday after a scary hit from Houston Texans safety Calen Bullock.

The Dolphins announced he was in stable condition, but he was ruled out with a head injury and taken to a hospital for evaluation.

After the game, head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters there was "positive feedback" following DuBose's head and neck scans, although he will stay in the hospital overnight.

The team provided an update Monday morning, noting that the initial tests have shown "positive results":

Miami Dolphins @MiamiDolphins

An update on the status of Dolphins WR Grant DuBose: <br><br>After sustaining a head injury in yesterday's game, Grant DuBose remained at a local Houston hospital for evaluation overnight. He has movement in all extremities and initial tests have revealed positive results. He remains…

DuBose attempted to catch a pass while cutting across the middle of the field and took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Bullock. Bullock was flagged for unnecessary roughness.

DuBose then had his jersey cut off and his helmet removed and was in a neck brace as he was carted off the field.

Omar Kelly @OmarKelly

The medical team on the field cut off Dolphins receiver Grant Dubose's jersey. This injury, caused by a head to head hit, seems serious. He's more than likely headed to a local hospital. <a href="https://t.co/nolL1SPTtG">pic.twitter.com/nolL1SPTtG</a>

DuBose, a seventh-round pick out of Charlotte in 2023, was appearing in just the third game of his career on Sunday. He had one reception for 13 yards coming into the contest.

Bullock is the second Texans player this month to be flagged for an unnecessary roughness call that left another player with a scary injury. Earlier in December, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair hit Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence as he attempted to slide, giving Lawrence a concussion.

The NFL suspended Al-Shaair three games for repeated violations of player safety rules and the league called his hit "unacceptable" and said his "continued disregard" for rules governing player safety "will not be tolerated."

Bullock, a rookie out of USC, has never been fined or suspended whereas Al-Shaair had previously picked up fines for unsportsmanlike actions. His past actions factored into his three-game suspension.

The Dolphins, sitting at 6-7 on the year, are hoping for a miraculous finish to the end of the season to reach the playoffs. A win over the Texans would go a long way, but they would still need to be perfect in their last three games to have any chance of reaching the postseason.