New York Jets rookie linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin suffered a concussion in the season opener and will remain in hospital overnight, the NFL team reported on its Twitter feed.

The Jets had originally feared Mauldin might have suffered some type of neck injury but they received good news from the doctors at a local hospital who checked him out.

"LB Lorenzo Mauldin has a concussion, no neck injury, has feelings in extremities, will remain in hospital overnight for observation," the tweet said.

Mauldin was down on the field for five minutes before being strapped to a spinal board and loaded into a waiting ambulance during the Jets 31-10 win over the Cleveland Browns.

Mauldin was piled on during a scramble for a loose ball. A hush fell over the stadium as trainers treated Mauldin on the field and several of his teammates dropped to one knee.

"He just came back from an injury," coach Todd Bowles said of the rookie who dealt with a knee injury in the pre-season. "He was working hard getting back. He got back to playing the opener.

"He was running around doing some good things and for him to go down like that, first your heart goes out to him and his family.

"After that it goes out to the team-mates and you just hope he's not seriously hurt."

The Jets also lost cornerback Antonio Cromartie to a left knee injury in the second quarter.

The Browns suffered their share of injuries in the bruising showdown at MetLife Stadium.

Quarterback Josh McCown suffered a concussion as Cleveland dropped their 11th straight season opener.

McCown's concussion came on the very first offensive play for the Browns, who fell to 27-26 all-time in NFL season openers.

Cleveland lost linebacker Scott Solomon (ankle) on their first defensive series of the game.
Source: AFP