New England Patriots wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell was forced out of Thursday’s preseason game with a left elbow injury.
Malcolm Mitchell straight to the locker room with what looked like a very painful left elbow injury
— Michele Steele (@MicheleSteele) August 12, 2016
Here’s a clip of the injury, which appears to show an elbow dislocation or break.
WARNING: GRAPHIC
Malcolm Mitchell's elbow is not suppose to bend that way #NFLPreseason https://t.co/RN6kguyLpH
— Bill Enright (@BillEnright) August 12, 2016
Barring a miracle, it would appear Mitchell is going to be unavailable for quite some time.
Making matters worse, he had been performing at a high level during the game, catching four passes on five targets for 55 yards, including a 23-yard reception, before halftime.
It’s a tough blow for this fourth-round rookie out of Georgia. He had been making waves in training camp, with ESPN’s Mike Reiss calling him “the ‘X’ receiver with the highest upside traits-wise” on New England’s roster.
Heading into Thursday’s game, Mitchell had been nursing a knee injury, but that’s the least of his worries at this point.