After Week 11 Win Over Falcons, Panthers Players Skip Celebration to Pray for Jets Cornerback Shot in NYC Early Sunday Morning

Victory is often a moment for celebration, but after their Week 11 win over the Atlanta Falcons, the Carolina Panthers’ locker room was filled not with cheers but with silence and concern. The reason wasn’t a controversial play or an injury on the field. It was a shocking incident out of New York. New York Jets cornerback Kris Boyd was shot early Sunday morning and remains in critical condition.

According to an exclusive report from New York Post, 29-year-old Kris Boyd was shot in the abdomen outside Sei Less restaurant on West 38th Street near Seventh Avenue after a dispute turned violent at around 2 a.m. While it’s unclear whether he was the intended target, the incident has shaken the NFL community. Boyd was rushed to Bellevue Hospital where he is currently listed in critical but stable condition. Police continue to investigate, with no arrests made and witnesses reportedly being uncooperative.

Boyd, who previously played for the Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans before joining the Jets this season, has yet to appear in a game in 2025 due to a preseason shoulder injury. He signed a $1.6 million contract with the Jets this offseason and has earned over $8 million in his career.

Upon hearing the news, the Panthers team held a moment of prayer together in the locker room instead of celebrating their win. One player emotionally shared, “Even though we don’t know Kris Boyd personally, we’re all part of the same league. His pain is our pain. We just hope he pulls through.”

Panthers owner David Tepper responded swiftly by issuing a new internal rule for all Panthers players: No one is allowed out past midnight during the active NFL season. Tepper explained, “Safety is the top priority. I don’t want to see anyone on our team caught in a situation like this. Call me strict, but we have to protect ourselves before it’s too late.”

The shooting incident involving Boyd serves as a stark reminder that dangers off the field are real and present, and that personal safety must remain a top priority for every player in the league.