Posted by Ryan WilsonUPDATE, 4:00 p.m (via the Associated Press): Eagles defensive tackle Mike Patterson likely will stay overnight at a hospital after suffering a seizure at training camp at Lehigh University, trainer Rick Burkholder said Wednesday.
Chances are really good we're going to keep him in overnight for observation," Burkholder said. "He's there with his wife. The only thing that we've really ruled out, he didn't have any bleeding in his brain or anything like that. The bleeding that some of you saw was that he bit his tongue, they've confirmed that, and they're running more tests on him right now.
"But he's very stable. He wants to come back to training camp, but he's over there being observed, but that's pretty normal for somebody who has a seizure. Standard protocol says keep him in overnight to watch him and keep some monitors on him and whatnot."
Patterson's agent JR Ricket said in a statement that the player is "in no pain and doing well." "We are very grateful for everyone's prayers and support," he added. "Mike will be back at practice as soon as the doctors clear him." Burkholder said the seizure lasted about four minutes, and Patterson lost consciousness at one point as he was on the ground.
Burkholder said there's no timetable for Patterson's return. "We'll turn that over to the neurologists and those people who are absolute experts," he said. "It's not like hamstring strains. We don't see tons of seizures in our sport, so that's why I have a whole team of physicians, and Lehigh Valley Hospital has a great neuro department, so we're allowing them to handle the case now and then we'll get him to see our docs down at the Pennsylvania Hospital eventually."
11:00 a.m.: Via Eagles Rapid Reporter Kevin Noonan: "Trainer Rick Burkholder saiD Patterson is alert and responsive at Lehigh Valley Hospital after collapsing at practice and suffering a seizure. 'He's even joking around a little bit,' Burkholder said."
10:30 a.m.: Sources tell Pro Football Talk that Patterson is sending text messages from the hospital saying that he's fine. PFT reports that doctors believe dehydration caused the convulsions, and according to NBC10, the Eagles are saying that Patterson had a seizure.
Eagles defensive tackle Mike Patterson collapsed at practice Wednesday morning and went into convulsions, according to CBSSports.com's Rapid Reports. The team's medical staff attended to him immediately, and the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Patterson was hooked up to an IV and transferred to a stretcher before an ambulance arrived approximately 15 minutes later. The Inquirer also calls Wednesday "probably the hottest morning here at camp."
Patterson apparently had movement in his arms and legs, and was conscious as he was transported to the hospital.
CBSSports.com Eagles correspondent Kevin Noonan writes that "After DT Mike Patterson was taken away by an ambulance - he had collapsed after a routine drill - his partners on the d-line gathered in a circle, got down on one knee and said a prayer for their friend."
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