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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 10:11 a.m., Friday, August 8, 2008

Jets tight end Schable leaves hospital

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK — Jets tight end A.J. Schable was released from a Cleveland hospital and returned to New York with the team early today after he was taken from the field on a stretcher following a helmet-to-helmet hit in a preseason game against the Browns.

Schable's agent, Ron Slavin, said the tight end was meeting with doctors in New York, but was waiting to hear about his client's prognosis.

Schable, signed by the Jets in the offseason, was trying to make a tackle on a kickoff return with 12 minutes left in a 24-20 victory when he slammed into Cleveland offensive lineman Cliff Louis and was knocked backward.

He remained on the field in a curled up position until trainers turned him on his back, then gently placed him on a stretcher. The entire team went onto the field as Schable was immobilized, and the tight end gave a thumbs-up with his left hand as he was being wheeled off the field.

Early reports from the hospital were positive, and Slavin was relieved to hear the injuries weren't as serious as initially feared.

"He does have movement in his arms and legs," coach Eric Mangini said after the game. "That is extremely encouraging."

Schable was signed by Arizona as an undrafted free agent out of South Dakota in 2006, and appeared at fullback and defensive end that season. He was waived by the Cardinals at the end of training camp and signed by Philadelphia in January. The Eagles waived him in June and the Jets signed Schable six days later.