Why was Hardy Nickerson on the field to strip the ball away from Royce Freeman? Because Vontaze Burfict left the field a few plays prior with an unknown injury.
Burfict left the game earlier for a short period of time before later returning. This time, Burfict went to the locker room for further evaluation.
Nickerson will remain in the game for as long as Burfict is out. We’ll update this story when we receive word regarding his status to return.
This has been the latest of many setbacks for Burfict this year, who never has been the Pro Bowl linebacker he was in year’s past.