ATLANTA — Rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels had the game-sealing interception to help the Atlanta Falcons beat the previously undefeated San Francisco 49ers 29-20 on Sunday, one week after he was immobilized by medical personnel and rushed to Grady Hospital.
Last Sunday against the Chicago Bears, Daniels laid on the turf for nearly eight minutes after taking a knee to the head before departing the field on a cart. Seven days later, he led the Falcons with nine solo tackles and had a fumble recovery in Atlanta’s victory.
“It’s been the craziest week of my life,” Daniels said. “I’ve never not walked off the field after an injury. So, mentally, I had to be prepared and going back home and just making sure I was OK mentally more than anything and not playing timid, but I’ve never not gotten up from an injury. So, being stretched off the field – I won’t let it happen again. It was a bad feeling, and I’m blessed to be able to play this week.”
Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski called the whole thing “remarkable.”
Daniels didn’t end up with any structural damage nor a concussion after getting hurt against the Bears in Week 6. He was actually back in the home locker room after the game, walking around under his own power. Daniels was in pain, though. Falcons defensive tackle Maason Smith said Daniels was so sore when he got back to the team’s facility Monday that he couldn’t move his neck to either side.
By Wednesday, though, Daniels was able to practice. He was listed as questionable on the injury report, but not only did he start Sunday, he wore the green dot, calling plays for the Falcons’ defense. Veteran linebacker Divine Deablo would normally have that role, but he was out with a forearm injury.
“And then, oh, by the way, go play in a game against [49ers coach] Kyle Shanahan and [quarterback] Brock Purdy and put the green dot on and call the defense,” Stefanski said. “So that’s unbelievable to just do that. And then to make a play at the end, man, really proud of that kid.”
Daniels’ interception came with 2:42 left in the game and the Falcons ahead 26-20. Atlanta was able to get a Nick Folk field goal on the ensuing possession to go up by two possessions. Daniels also recovered a fumble forced by safety Jessie Bates III with 57 seconds left.
“He’s a warrior,” Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts said of Daniels. “I definitely told him, I was like, ‘Damn, I didn’t know he was going to be walking that quick.'”
After the interception, fellow rookie linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. couldn’t contain himself celebrating with Daniels, who said he didn’t even have a chance to remember his neck injury.
“I wasn’t thinking of it,” Daniels said with a smile. “‘Perk’ was slapping me in the back of my head. I couldn’t breathe. I think that was the last thing I was worried about was last week.”
