#NFL, ESPN discuss TV carts after scary Johnathan Abram incident

Raiders safety Johnathan Abram, who crashed into a TV cart during Monday’s win over the Saints, suffered a Grade 2 AC joint sprain in addition to a small piece of his collarbone chipping off and causing internal bleeding due to the incident.

The nationally televised incident saw Abram lying motionless on his back for several moments after tumbling into the towering wagon while attempting to tackle Saints running back Alvin Kamara in the first quarter Monday. The fall knocked the wind out of him and an X-ray ruled out a significant fracture, according to NFL.com. However, additional tests Tuesday fully showed the extent of the damage.

It also raised questions between the league and ESPN about player safety with equipment so close to the field, per NFL.com.

Abram returned to finish Monday’s 34-24 victory and practiced in full this week. He appears to be just fine as he intercepted quarterback Cam Newton in the first quarter of Sunday’s Raiders-Patriots game.

Discussions are reportedly ongoing with the league’s broadcast partners and clarifying where TV carts can be on the sidelines, especially given the newly established rules that limit the number of people on the sideline due to coronavirus protocols.

Monday night was also the first game at the Raiders’ new stadium, Allegiant Stadium, and it’s not out of the ordinary to review procedures afterwards.

Abram’s agent, Trey Robinson, called on the league to at least require carts on the sidelines to be completely padded, if not relocated.

“Players are even more likely to make impact with these carts this season because of the lack of people on the sidelines due to COVID restrictions,” Robinson told NFL.com.