Devon Walker Fractures Spine in Apparent Head-to-Head Collision

Doctors say they will need to operate soon on Tulane safety Devon Walker, who is in stable condition after fracturing his spine in a head-to-head collision with a teammate during a weekend game in Tulsa.

“The current plan is for him to have surgery in the next one to two days,” said the statement released late Saturday, hours after the New Orleans team opened the Conference USA portion of its schedule against Tulsa.

The injury occurred on the final play of the first half. Tulsa was leading 35-3 and facing a fourth-and-2 with the ball at the 33-yard line on Saturday when the Golden Hurricane called timeout. Tulane then called timeout.

When play resumed, Tulsa quarterback Cody Green tossed a short pass to Willie Carter, who caught it at about the 28, and turned upfield. He was tackled around the 17-yard line, with defensive tackle Julius Warmsley and Walker sandwiching him and apparently smashing their helmets into each other.

Medical personnel from both teams attended Walker as he lay on the field. FOX Sports reported a hush went over the crowd at H.A. Chapman Stadium as Walker was attended to, and that several coaches were in tears as he was taken away in an ambulance. Spectators bowed their heads as someone on the field led the stadium in prayer.

Dr. Buddy Savoie said during a postgame news conference that Walker was in stable condition and would need spinal surgery in the “the next day or two.” He added that Walker never completely lost consciousness and was breathing on his own.