Colts’ Salvon Ahmed taken to hospital with severe injury

Salvon Ahmed was carted off the Colts’ practice field and taken to a hospital Sunday after he got knocked down by a defender using an illegal hip-drop tackle. 

Ahmed suffered a severe lower right leg injury from the play and had X-rays done at the hospital. 

“Never want to see that happen,” coach Shane Steichen said. “I know we don’t encourage hip-drop tackles. I know Trey [Washington] is down in the dumps, and I don’t think he’s trying to do that. We’re just trying to create an edge. … Those [backups] are going to have to tackle come preseason.”

The injury occurred during a time in practice dubbed a developmental period, which the third-string players participate in, according to ESPN, and the team was allowing tackling during the drills.

Ahmed took a handoff and Washington, an undrafted free agent, chased him down as he crossed the goal line. 

Practice came to a screeching halt at that point as the running back grabbed at his ankle and was in significant pain as trainers came out to evaluate the situation. 

Ahmed was eventually placed on a stretcher and taken off the field on a cart. 

Hip-drop tackles have been banned in the NFL due to their propensity for creating injuries.

The injury occurred with 15 minutes left in practice, and after meeting with team leadership, Steichen continued the session. 

“There’s a lot of thoughts going on in my head during that situation,” he said. “I talked to some of the leaders on the team. We wanted to get that last two-minute situation in. Felt that we needed that. They were on board with that.”

Ahmed was hoping to make the Colts this season after spending last year on the team’s practice squad. 

He has four years of NFL experience under his belt, all with the Dolphins from 2020-23.