A Louisville player was taken to a nearby hospital after sustaining an unspecified injury during Saturday night’s game against Clemson.
Postgame reports indicated that he was doing well following the Cardinals’ surprising 31-22 victory over the No. 11 Tigers in a primetime matchup at Memorial Stadium.
Cardinals defensive back Benjamin Perry was injured in the first quarter of the Clemson-Louisville game and lay on the field for approximately five minutes.
On Sunday morning, Louisville’s football social media account shared encouraging news about Perry, stating: “All tests on Ben Perry came back normal. He was able to return to Louisville with the team on Sunday morning and will continue to be evaluated by the UofL sports medicine staff this week.”
Louisville coach Jeff Brohm and Clemson coach Dabo Swinney both took time to check on Perry before he eventually walked off the field on Saturday night, assisted by trainers and wearing a neck brace.
Soon after, the ESPN broadcast showed Perry being taken off the field on a stretcher attached to a golf cart. Sideline reporter Kris Budden reported that he was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for further evaluation.
While Louisville had not given a specific injury update on Perry during the game, Budden mentioned that the linebacker was still wearing a neck brace and strapped to the cart, but was “alert and talking” as he left Memorial Stadium.
Budden later reported that Perry was being taken to a hospital in Greenville, South Carolina, approximately 45 minutes from Clemson, for an MRI. He also mentioned that Perry had been speaking to his mother on the phone after his injury.
In the postgame remarks, Brohm stated he hadn’t yet been able to reach team personnel regarding Perry’s status but was aware that the safety experienced “some numbness in his legs.” He added, “We were going to ensure that the neck was stabilized. I haven’t heard the latest.”
Swinney noted after the game that Louisville was exercising “a lot of precautions” with Perry, which he appreciated and supported. “Hopefully he’s OK,” Swinney said. “I know they put him in a neck brace, just trying to ensure that everything checks out properly. So hopefully he will be.” Perry is a fourth-year defensive back for the Cardinals from Chicago.