OXNARD, Calif. –The Cowboys' afternoon practice was marred by a severe injury scare on Thursday afternoon, as second-year defensive end Kenneth Boatright was taken to a nearby hospital with an apparent neck injury.
The incident occurred roughly halfway through practice, and Boatright was immobilized for roughly 10 minutes on the practice field before he was loaded onto a stretcher and taken away in an ambulance.
"We really don't know all the details now," Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said immediately after practice. "Obviously, we're hoping for the best. It's just too early to say."
Jones said the Cowboys are still evaluating the tape from the play in question, but it appeared Boatright collided with left tackle Tyron Smith during the action.
"We were in an over front, and they ran a scoop block. I think the tackle hit his neck – kind of like a whiplash or whatnot," said Jeremy Mincey. "I don't know what's going on, I don't know the details. I just remember seeing him laying on the ground. We're going to pray for him and his family and hope he heals up."
Associate trainer Greg Gaither accompanied the defensive end to the hospital.
Boatright spent last season with the Cowboys, mostly on the practice squad but he did play his only career game at Washington, recording two tackles. He spent his first season with the Seahawks but was on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.
"It's unfair to say anything until we get a report on him, and so we're just waiting on that report," Jones reiterated.
