National Football League

Heyward-Bey carted off with injury

Published Sep. 23, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

Ross Jones

Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey was carted off the field on a stretcher following a scary hit that left him unconscious for nearly 10 minutes in the end zone during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although Heyward-Bey was unresponsive initially, he was able to give a thumbs up to the Oakland faithful.

Heyward-Bey's neck jerked violently and his head also crashed into the ground following a hit from Steelers safety Ryan Mundy as he attempted to reel in a Carson Palmer pass. Players from both teams were kneeling and praying as Heyward-Bey was given medical attention by team trainers.

No flag was thrown by the referees on the hit. Player safety has been a big concern regarding the replacement referees.

Trainers attended to him as he lay motionless. He was strapped to a table and placed on a cart.

The Raiders said Heyward-Bey was in stable condition and will stay in the hospital overnight for observation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.