Former Vandal All-American guard Mike Iupati sustained a neck injury and was rushed off the field in an ambulance during the second quarter of Sunday’s game between the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks.
The former Idaho collegiate standout was blocking for running back Chris Johnson when he awkwardly collided with Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor. Iupati appeared to lower his head moments before colliding with Chancellor’s shoulder.
Iupati lay motionless on the field for 10 minutes while medical personnel for both teams attended his injuries.
The America Samoa native played left guard at the University of Idaho from 2006-2009 under head coach Robb Akey and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers with the 17th overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft.
Iupati earned Pro Bowl honors during three straight seasons for the 49ers from 2012-2014. He eventually signed a deal in the offseason with the Arizona Cardinals as a free agent for 2015 when his initial contract in San Francisco expired.
Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians told NBC reporters during halftime of Sunday’s matchup that Iupati had undergone a CT scan and MRI at a nearby hospital, both of which were negative.
Arians said that Iupati initially told trainers that he was experiencing numbness in his body following the hit with Chancellor, but that feeling returned to his extremities after he was taken to a local Seattle hospital.
Iupati was released from the hospital following medical testing and several rounds of X-rays, and is expected to fly back to Phoenix with his teammates following their 39-32 win over Seattle.
The Argonaut and Vandal Nation will continue to cover the story.