Oakland Raiders defensive back Gareon Conley left Monday night’s game on a stretcher after suffering what looked like a potentially serious head or neck injury, but all of the updates surrounding his health have fortunately been positive.
Raiders head coach Jon Gruden told reporters after his team’s win over the Denver Broncos that he had heard Conley is “going to be OK,” and Conley’s social media activity seemed to confirm that. The former Ohio State star shared a message on his Instagram story early Tuesday morning and said he was sent home from the hospital.
“I’m OK everyone I made it home to see this little guy thanks to everyone who reached out thank you raidernation and shoutout to my teammates for getting that dub,” Conley wrote.
The fact that Conley was not held overnight at the hospital is a great sign.
Conley suffered the injury while trying to tackle Broncos running back Royce Freeman. He was hanging on Freeman’s jersey when teammate Johnathan Abram also got in on the tackle, and Abram inadvertently kicked Conley in the head. The stadium went silent as Conley was tended to by trainers and medical personnel, and he was able to give a thumbs up as he was taken off the field in a stretcher.
It’s unclear how much — if any — time Conley will miss, but all indications are the former first-round pick avoided a major injury.
