BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The condition of Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Mike Patterson following his seizure at practice may be worse than first feared after the team confirmed Thursday he has a brain condition that could require surgery or radiation therapy.
Patterson was described initially as “alert, stable” and even “joking a little bit” after he was stretchered off the field and taken to the hospital Wednesday morning following a seizure that lasted at least four minutes.
Eagles trainer Rick Burkholder confirmed Thursday an ESPN report that Patterson has a brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a condition described as the tangling of blood vessels outside the brain.
Burkholder had refused to speculate on Patterson’s condition Wednesday before the player underwent tests at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, Pa., where he remained overnight.
Burkholder said Thursday Patterson will undergo further tests and is on medication to prevent another seizure. He added it is “foolish” to speculate on when Patterson would be able to play football again, saying the team does not know at this point.
Patterson’s agent J.R. Rickert disputed the information Thursday about his client’s condition, denying there had been an official diagnosis of AVM.
“Media reports are not accurate. Mike has not yet decided on surgery,” Rickert said in a statement.
“He has not received an official diagnosis of a brain AVM, and he is continuing to be evaluated today by multiple doctors. Once we know the course of treatment and timetable for recovery, Mike and his wife, Bianca, will decide on how to proceed.“
Patterson suddenly fell on his back and began shaking just as the team was preparing to do one-on-one linemen drills at training camp in Bethlehem, Pa. He bit his tongue during the seizure, causing profuse bleeding in his mouth, The Inquirer reported Thursday.
“For all intents and purposes, he couldn’t communicate. His eyes were open but he wasn’t alert, so he technically lost consciousness,” Burkholder said Wednesday.
Patterson was loaded into an ambulance about 10 minutes later and hooked up to an IV. The team said Patterson was also treated on the field by Dr. Jeremy Ng, an ER doctor who is at every practice.
The 27-year-old Patterson has been a mainstay on the Eagles’ defensive line since being drafted 31st overall out of USC in 2005. Last season the six-foot-one, 300-pounder registered 30 tackles and two sacks in 15 games.