Patriots' Rookie Malcolm Mitchell Only Expected To Miss 4 Weeks After Ugly-Looking Elbow Injury
BOSTON (CBS) -- Football is a dangerous game, even in the preseason.
That unfortunate reality made itself known to rookie wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell on Thursday night, in his NFL preseason debut against the New Orleans Saints.
On his fifth catch of the night, the receiver was fighting for extra yards while getting tackled by De'Vante Harris.
Unfortunately for Mitchell, when he fell to the turf, all of his weight fell on his left arm. His elbow appeared to bend in a very unnatural way.
Mitchell showed immediately that he was in pain, and he was tended to by the training staff as he was taken directly to the locker room.
Mitchell, 23, was selected in the fourth round out of Georgia. He had five receptions for 44 yards in his NFL preseason debut.
A photo of the injury is below, but as a warning, it's not for the faint of heart.
UPDATE: The Boston Herald's Jeff Howe reported that the injury was indeed a dislocation and not a break, which is good news for Mitchell. Howe said Mitchell could return in four weeks.