Dolphins’ Grant DuBose Hospitalized After Serious Injury

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Grant DuBose is in stable condition after suffering a severe head injury during Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans. He remains hospitalized in Houston for further evaluation and will not immediately return to South Florida with the team.

Head coach Mike McDaniel shared encouraging news, stating that initial head and neck imaging provided “positive feedback.” However, DuBose stays overnight at Memorial Hermann Hospital for additional medical assessments.

Miami Dolphins – The Injury Incident

The injury occurred in the third quarter when DuBose was struck in the helmet by Texans safety Calen Bullock while attempting to catch a pass from Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. DuBose, 23, lay motionless on the field for approximately 11 minutes as medical staff attended to him.

His helmet and facemask were removed, and his jersey was cut off to allow for emergency care. Wearing a neck brace, DuBose was placed on a spine board, secured to a stretcher, and transported via ambulance to the hospital.

During this distressing moment, Dolphins players gathered in a circle to pray, while McDaniel and Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans shared a solemn embrace on the sideline.

“When you see a guy down on the field like that, it’s tough to see,” said Ryans. “We’re just praying that all is well with him and that he recovers as quickly as possible.”

Player Reactions

This was DuBose’s first game back since Week 2, following a shoulder injury that had placed him on injured reserve. The incident left both teams shaken. Texans safety Calen Bullock, penalized for unnecessary roughness for hitting a defenseless receiver, expressed remorse after the game.

“I was praying that he would be OK,” Bullock said. “I wasn’t trying to go out there and hurt anybody.”

Tagovailoa, who has faced his battles with concussions, took personal responsibility for the play.

“I’m my toughest critic when it comes to ball placement,” Tagovailoa said. “I feel bad that I even put him in that situation. It was tough to move on after that happened.” He added that while the news of DuBose’s recovery was reassuring, the incident brought back memories of his injuries. “You never want to see anyone in that position.”

Teammate Tyreek Hill echoed these sentiments, describing the incident as “scary.”

“Seeing one of your brothers laying the way he was, it’s scary,” Hill said. “People don’t understand the sacrifices we make to play this game.”

Hill also shared that DuBose was in “good spirits” and moving, which provided some relief to the team.

Impact on the Game

Despite the emotional toll, the Miami Dolphins resumed play and scored their first touchdown shortly afterward. However, they ultimately fell to the Texans, 20-12, dropping their record to 6-8.

McDaniel acknowledged the challenge of continuing after such a traumatic event but emphasized the importance of staying focused for his team.

“I’m in the moment with the player, but when the game starts, I have a lot of people counting on me to make sound decisions,” McDaniel said. “It’s never easy, but it’s part of my responsibility.”

Additional Injuries

The Dolphins faced another setback during Sunday’s game when receiver Jaylen Waddle exited in the first half with a knee injury. McDaniel described Waddle as “super frustrated” and noted that an update on his condition would not be available until Monday.