Former Trojan Mike Patterson OK after collapsing at Eagles camp

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Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Mike Patterson is doing much better after a scary morning at training camp.

The former USC Trojan suffered a seizure between plays during Wednesday’s morning practice but is now alert, stable and joking at a hospital, team trainer Rick Burkholder said.

“He’s absolutely alert, stable, totally communicating with everybody, even joking a little bit,” Burkholder said. “We won’t speculate what happened to him, other than he had a seizure. It could be anything. We don’t even want to speculate what might have happened.”

The Eagles’ first-round pick from 2005 dropped to the ground and began shaking violently between plays during practice at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. He was immediately tended to by Burkholder and his staff, with assistance from rookie offensive lineman Danny Watkins, a trained firefighter.

Teammates kneeled and held hands as Patterson was placed on a stretcher and lifted into the ambulance. Practice resumed after about 15 minutes.

Burkholder estimated the seizure lasted about four minutes and said Patterson lost consciousness at one point while he was on the ground. He added that Patterson was undergoing further tests at Lehigh Valley Hospital.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Top photo: Philadelphia Eagles players and coaches gather around defensive tackle Mike Patterson as he is put into an ambulance after he had a seizure during a training camp practice at Lehigh University on Wednesday. Credit: Alex Brando / Associated Press