EmailPrintFLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets cornerback Qwan'tez Stiggers was transported via ambulance to a local hospital after collapsing during a joint practice Tuesday with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.The Jets didn't immediately release a diagnosis, though coach Aaron Glenn said after practice that Stiggers was conscious and able to speak."He came to the sideline and he just passed out," said Glenn.Glenn said he didn't witness the incident - he was on the adjacent field - but he sounded encouraged by the preliminary indications. Stiggers, 24, was given an IV on the field and was taken by stretcher to the ambulance. He was being evaluated at the hospital."For the most part, he was good," Glenn said.The scary scene, which halted practice for 10 minutes, capped an eventful morning. There were four fights during the two-hour practice, with Bucs right tackle Luke Goedeke later accusing Jets edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare of triggering one of the brawls with a cheap shot.The tempers cooled (temporarily) and everything went silent when Stiggers, a backup corner and special teams standout, went down during a special-teams period. It occurred in front of the sideline bleachers and a small group of fans.Players took a knee and medical personnel hovered over Stiggers for 10 minutes. Glenn later praised the medical staff."It was really scary," Jets defensive tackle Harrison Phillips said. "It puts a lot of things in perspective. I'm really happy to hear most of the news has been positive, but the knee jerk (reaction) is you're sitting there thinking, 'What the f---?'"What's been shared to us is that things are on the up and up."At the end of practice, the Jets' players and coaches gathered on the field to pray for Stiggers, according to Phillips.Stiggers was a 2024 fifth-round pick, skipping college to play in the NFL. He played one season for the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. He has appeared in 29 games for the Jets, making his mark as a gunner on the punt coverage team.The practice turned chippy early on, when Goedeke stalemated Jets rookie David Bailey in a one-on-one pass rush drill. Earlier, Bailey, the No. 2 overall pick, beat Goedeke with an outside move. After the stalemate, Bailey patted the veteran lineman on the helmet, sparking the melee. Several players from both sides jumped in."He called me out in the one-on-ones, that he wanted to go against me - and lost," Goedeke said. "He tried shoving me after that."Minutes later, in an 11-on-11 period, Goedeke said Enagbare "came from the side and cheap-shotted me. That didn't start practice warm and fuzzy."In that brawl, Goedeke ripped off Stiggers' helmet and flung it. It occurred on a play in which Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield was intercepted by backup safety Jarius Monroe.The somber mood of the Stiggers scare didn't eliminate the hard feelings between the teams. After the 10-minute delay, Jets right tackle Armand Membou and Bucs defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson got into a fight, with Robinson ripping off Membou's helmet.Later, Jets rookie defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr. scuffled with several Tampa Bay players.Glenn and Bucs coach Todd Bowles are close friends, but the good vibes didn't trickle down to the players. Both coaches downplayed the fights, saying they're a part of joint practices."I don't like fighting," Phillips said, "but there's a positive in that, hey, 'I don't want to be punked.' I hope that's not part of the DNA of this team, but as a veteran it gets our adrenaline going, too."
