Jets CB Qwan'tez Stiggers Hospitalized After Collapsing at Joint Practice With Buccaneers
New York Jets cornerback Qwan'tez Stiggers was taken to a hospital by ambulance on August 11, 2026, after briefly losing consciousness during a joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn told reporters the 24-year-old was conscious and talking on the field before being placed on a stretcher for further examination. The incident occurred during special teams drills — the phase of the game covering kicks, punts, and returns — when Stiggers came to the sideline and collapsed. He was loaded into an ambulance and transported for medical evaluation. No further details on his condition were immediately available. The Guardian
The scene was sobering. Teammates took a knee near the sideline. Others formed a prayer circle while medical staff attended to Stiggers. Practice resumed after a stoppage of roughly 10 minutes, once Stiggers was being cared for and transported.
Stiggers was entering his third NFL season in 2026. The Jets drafted him in the fifth round in 2024 out of the Canadian Football League — a rare path to the pros. He was the first player drafted directly from the CFL since Miami selected Jermaine Haley in 1999, and he arrived in the NFL with no college football experience on his résumé. The Guardian
His road to that draft moment was harder than most. Shortly after Stiggers signed his college acceptance letter, his mother was placed in a coma following a catastrophic car accident. He dropped out of school, redirecting his life and eventually finding his way to professional football through the CFL's Edmonton Elks before the Jets called his name. NewYorkJets.com
In 29 career games with New York, including five starts, Stiggers has recorded 35 tackles, two fumble recoveries, and three passes defensed. He had already shown a nose for special teams work against these same Buccaneers — in a Week 3 matchup last September, he made key plays in the kicking game and dropped a returner for a 1-yard loss on a punt. NewYorkJets.com
Joint practices — where two NFL teams share a facility for scrimmages ahead of the preseason — are intense, full-speed affairs. Players are fighting for roster spots in padded, contact-heavy sessions that can rival regular-season games in their physical toll. The Buccaneers and Jets were in the thick of that work when the incident occurred.
The priority now is Stiggers's health. The Jets have not released an update beyond Glenn's initial comments, and the team will likely provide more information once medical evaluations are complete.
