An unsuspecting NFL photographer caught a stray football to the face in the Washington Commanders—New York Jets on Sunday, adding a lighthearted wrinkle to a one-sided first half.
Deep in Washington’s territory on a 3rd-and-9, Jets quarterback Trevor Siemian was looking for tight end Tyler Conklin in the end zone, but Conklin couldn’t quite get his hands on the pass. The ball whistled through the air and found a very different target instead: The orange beanie of a cameraman who was just trying to take close-up pictures of the game.
Talk about an occupational hazard.
The photographer got doinked on the head and fell backward, immediately shielding their face.
Anything for the perfect shot 📸
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 24, 2023
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/vwRbXQk2Fm
The Jets settled for a field goal to close out the drive and were up 27—7 against the Commanders at halftime.
In light of more serious sideline injuries to non-football personnel this season, the in-game photographer might have gotten away easy.
NFL fans had a field day watching the silly incident unfold and came prepared with jokes:
Trevor Siemian should get an unnecessary roughness call for doinking the cameraman pic.twitter.com/rTOBEpsQzz
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) December 24, 2023
Perfect pass to the cameraman’s head. pic.twitter.com/3bS0oBPiIC
— Mark B In SD (@MomsOopsBaby) December 24, 2023
The cameraman pic.twitter.com/ege5KQmO5X
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) December 24, 2023
Camera guy at jets/commanders game just took that throw off the dome hahaha
— Jay 🇨🇦 (@JordanLaj17) December 24, 2023
been a rough year for sideline crews
— Ethan - uɐɥʇƎ🧀 (@ethannnnnnnn23) December 24, 2023
