National Football League

Raiders WR Heyward-Bey leaves after hit to head

Published Nov. 20, 2011 11:54 p.m. ET

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Oakland Raiders wide receiver Darius Heyward-Bey left the game at Minnesota on Sunday after taking a hard hit to the head.

The former first-round draft pick had to be carted off the field with his neck stabilized after the scary collision, but Raiders coach Hue Jackson said Heyward-Bey had movement in all of his limbs and would likely make the trip back to Oakland with the team.

''He was always alert,'' Jackson said. ''I saw him out there and talked to him. He's going to be fine. I truly believe he's going to be OK, but obviously we have to take all the precautionary measures to make sure he's going to be OK.''

Heyward-Bey was swarmed after catching a third-down pass over the middle early in the fourth quarter, and Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson's knee knocked Heyward-Bey's helmet off as he approached to help with the tackle. Heyward-Bey immediately curled up in discomfort and stayed motionless on the turf for several minutes while medical staff tended to him.

Jackson said Heyward-Bey would be evaluated in Oakland. He had four catches for 43 yards in the game.

The hit from Henderson was purely accidental, but the linebacker said he hoped to reach out to Heyward-Bey to make sure he was OK.

''As soon as you see the cart out there, it's a bad feeling,'' Henderson said. ''Hopefully he is OK. He gave us the thumps up when he was leaving the field.''

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