New York Jets player Kris Boyd was hospitalized in critical condition early Sunday morning.
The New York City police said the 29-year-old man was shot in the stomach around 2 a.m. on West 38th Street in Midtown. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he is in critical but stable condition.
“We are aware of the situation regarding Kris Boyd and will have no further comment at this time,” the Jets said in a statement.
One of Boyd's college friends while at Texas, Ernest Quander, said the player was recovering well.
“He's fine right now. He's in good shape. He's doing very well,” Quander told the magazine. New York Publication on Sunday.
The Post reports. that Boyd was shot after an argument outside a restaurant turned violent. Police said they are searching for a man they believe is the shooter, who fled the scene in a BMW X8 SUV.
Boyd, a defensive back who plays primarily on special teams, was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round of the 2019 draft after his college career at Texas. He also played for the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals before joining the Jets in March. He has not played yet this season due to a shoulder injury.
During his time in Texas, Boyd said the hardships of his childhood—he lost his father and his grandmother, who helped raise him—gave him a positive outlook on life.
“I appreciate all the little things” Boyd said. “Everyone always asks me why I have a smile on my face. It's because I shouldn't be here.”
The Jets have had a difficult season off the field. In October, one of the most popular players in history, Nick Mangold, died at the age of 41. while seeking a kidney transplant. Earlier this month, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Marshawn Niland died at the age of 24.
