Falcons say Kendal Daniels is alert after neck injury sends him to hospital

Falcons linebacker Kendal Daniels is alert and has movement in all his extremities after a neck injury during Sunday's game against the Bears, Atlanta announced. The team said the rookie was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital for further evaluation.

Daniels was hurt in the third quarter while attempting to tackle Chicago tight end Colston Loveland after a pass completion. Medical personnel stabilized his neck and body before taking him off the field on a stretcher and cart, ESPN's Marc Raimondi reported.

The Falcons issued this update on his condition:

Atlanta ruled Daniels out for the rest of the game. The team's statement did not provide a further diagnosis or a timetable for his return.

Daniels, a fourth-round pick from Oklahoma, has started since Week 1. He was handling the defensive play-calling duties when he was injured, according to ESPN. Josh Woods took over that responsibility after Daniels left.

The Falcons were also without linebacker Divine Deablo, who had been ruled out with an arm injury, the NFL's official injury update reported.

Players and coaches gathered around Daniels as the medical staff prepared to move him. ESPN reported that he made a fist with his left hand as the cart carried him away. The Falcons' subsequent update confirmed he was alert and had movement while hospital staff continued evaluating him.