Virginia RB Jones taken to hospital after taking hard hit vs. L’ville

Virginia running back Perris Jones was immobilized, carted off the field and later hospitalized after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit late in the third quarter against Louisville on Thursday night.

Jones took a swing pass and started running upfield when he was hit. Jones fumbled on the play and fell forward into a pile of multiple Louisville players. Because the play happened near the Louisville sideline, Louisville trainers immediately ran out to offer assistance. Virginia receiver Malik Washington picked up the fumble and scored a touchdown, but the attention was already on Jones, as officials from both teams huddled around him.

Virginia players, some in tears, took a knee as they watched him in stunned silence. Jones is roommates with fellow running back Mike Hollins, who survived a shooting that killed three of his teammates last November. The one-year anniversary of the shooting deaths of Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D’Sean Perry is Monday.

Jones was eventually placed on a cart, completely immobilized. Hollins was among the players to get closest to the cart before it drove off. On the white tape Hollins wears on the back of his arms was 41, the number Perry wore.

Jones was taken to the University of Louisville hospital. There was no immediate word on his condition.