Cardinals defensive tackle Calais Campbell got the cell number of Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill and texted an apology this morning, after Campbell’s low hit led to an ACL sprain for the QB. Tannehill was originally feared to have torn the ACL, but Dolphins coach Adam Gase said the news was better than expected after the MRI.
“In football, injuries happen too often,” Campbell said. “You try and eliminate them from the game, it’s never on purpose. You are playing as hard as you can and bad things happen sometimes. I’m glad it wasn’t as bad as it originally seemed. I’m definitely hoping he comes back this year. They’re a good team and there is a lot riding on it. So I’m praying for him.”
Campbell said he was just “playing hard” and as he came off the block of tackle Branden Albert, Albert gave him a push that helped propel Campbell downward.
“It definitely wasn’t on purpose,” Campbell said. “I’ve never been that kind of guy, I never will be that kind of guy.”
Gase agreed, saying in his press conference earlier Monday “Playing (against) Calais many times, he’s not a guy I would say is a dirty player. I’d be shocked to say he did that intentionally. The direction we were headed on the protection and how he had to slant, he was kind of leaning when he was getting blocked … I think it was one of those football things. I don’t think he meant anything intentional by it.”
“I don’t know if he could’ve caught himself,” Gase added. “He’s a big man. That would’ve been very tough.”
Campbell, who was fined earlier this season for a low hit on Cam Newton, could be fined again. He was not flagged on Sunday’s play, nor the hit on Newton.
