ESPN analyst Ryan Clark played all or part of 13 seasons in the NFL with four teams, most famously a stretch with the Steelers that included a Super Bowl win. You can’t play in the NFL that long without getting hurt, and on top of the usual NFL incidents, Clark’s sickle cell trait resulted in a season ending splenic infarction at altitude in Denver. In short, Clark has dealt with plenty of injuries, and he probably assumed a career in broadcasting would be a lot less dangerous.
Unfortnately, Clark learned today that live television also requires you to keep your head on a swivel, as he apparently walked into a camera during NFL Live, resulting in a head injury that required stitches.
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So who said we aren’t tough on @espnnfl ? Hit the camera, may need some stitches!!
Clark started the broadcast but the show finished without him, and signed off by addressing what had happened:
Adam Schefter, meanwhile, was in his element:
Injury update: @Realrclark25 is now at a local CT hospital, receiving 2-3 stitches on his forehead, after accidentally walking into a camera during a commercial break of NFL Live, per sources. Clark is probable for NFL Live next week.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 12, 2018
Update Shefty….. Initial reports were wrong. 5 stitches were needed. Once we went into the injury tent, we realized in was a little more severe than the initial diagnosis
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) November 12, 2018
And he even reported a post-suture image, if that’s something you’re interested in.
ESPN obtained a photo of what five stitches from walking into a camera during a commercial break of NFL Live looks like for @Realrclark25 pic.twitter.com/5pKbz0HNhn
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 12, 2018
Some of Clark’s current and former ESPN colleagues didn’t exactly let him off the hook, either:
This is top-level reporting. Will Ryan be seeking a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews?
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) November 12, 2018
Cmon bruh ??♂️??♂️
— Damien Woody (@damienwoody) November 12, 2018
The dreaded JIB cam I’m sure!
— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) November 12, 2018
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) November 12, 2018
Can we get the footage? ?
— Tedy Bruschi (@TedyBruschi) November 12, 2018
Thankfully it sounds like the Twitter jokes might end up being worse than the injury itself.