Oct 29, 2020; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) is chased out of the pocket on the first drive by an Atlanta Falcons defender during the first quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Teddy Bridgewater was subject to some rather dirty antics by the Atlanta Falcons defense.
The Week 8 edition of Thursday Night Football featured a competitive affair between the Carolina Panthers and the Atlanta Falcons. While the NFC South rivals put on quite the show, things reared it’s ugly head late in the third quarter, and it unfortunately came at the expense of Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
Bridgewater was navigating a collapsing pocket, looking for an opening deep downfield. In the process, Falcons defensive end Dante Fowler kicked Bridgewater in the knee, causing him to fall to the turf. That was when Charle Harris came in with a nasty late hit to Bridgewater’s neck, leaving him laid out motionless on the field.
Harris ejected for dirty play
Luckily, Bridgewater was able to walk off the field under his own power and into the team’s medical tent. Despite how terrible that play looked, Bridgewater was shown putting on his trademark gloves and began tossing a ball on the sidelines, itching to get back in the game. However, Walker emerged for the team’s next offensive drive, but Bridgewater took over after clearing concussion protocol.
PJ Walker, former quarterback for the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks, stepped in for Bridgewater at the time of the apparent injury. While Walker couldn’t get the Panthers into the end zone, Joey Slye was able to convert a 39-yard field goal attempt.
As for Harris, the former 2017 first-round pick of the Miami Dolphins, he was understandably ejected from the contest by the officiating crew.