NEW ORLEANS, La. (AP) — A member of the Detroit-New Orleans chain crew was taken to the hospital with a dislocated knee after being tackled into by Saints running back Alvin Kamara.
Nick Piazza was in stable condition at University Hospital, according to Saints spokesman Doug Miller.
The game was stopped in the first half so that doctors from both teams could treat Piazza, who was lying on the turf along the Detroit sideline.
After Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes pushed Kamara hard over the sideline, causing the running back to lose his footing at the New Orleans 18-yard line, Piazza’s legs were taken out from under him. Piazza writhed on the ground, Kamara watching.
Piazza’s leg was immobilized with an air cast and escorted off the field to an ambulance.
Miller stated that the team hopes to have more information on Piazza’s condition on Monday.
This was the first time a member of the chain crew had been removed from a Saints game at the Superdome since 2010. Courtney Roby of the Saints collided hard with chain crew member Al Nastasi Jr. that season.
During a game against the Cleveland Browns, Roby was the gunner on punt coverage.
Nastasi landed on his head and was taken to a neuro-intensive care unit. He eventually recovered and returned to the chain crew.
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