Former Duke QB Anthony Boone remains hospitalized after head-on collision

Former Duke quarterback Anthony Boone remains hospitalized in Charlotte following two surgeries resulting from a car crash involving Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson last weekend.

Boone, a former Weddington High standout, is in Carolinas Medical Center recovering from hand and hip surgeries, his mother told the Observer on Thursday.

“He’s doing good. He’s got a long road back, but he’s getting better,” Jenice Boone said. “Praying every day, praying for strength.”

Boone’s hand surgery was Sunday, hours after the early morning wreck on Potter Road outside of Weddington.

Boone was on his way to a workout at 7:45 a.m. when an SUV driven by Thompson crossed the center line, leading both drivers to swerve and collide, according to the accident report.

Boone, who was not wearing a seat belt, was transported to Carolinas Medical Center. Thompson, who had his seat belt on, was not injured.

Jenice Boone said a family friend drove up on the site of the accident, which occurred when Thompson rounded a curve headed south on Potter Road in close proximity to his Weddington home.

Thompson told State Highway Patrol troopers he was returning home after dropping off a friend. Troopers said Thompson had alcohol in his system, but field tests and a roadside breathalyzer exam showed he was not impaired.

Thompson, who was cited for driving left of center, told troopers he dropped his cellphone on the floorboard and reached down to pick it up. Doug Hendrickson, Thompson’s agent, said Thompson told him he was not texting and driving.

Jenice Boone said the family had not heard from the Panthers or Thompson as of Thursday afternoon.

Thompson, the Panthers’ first-round pick in 2015, made a brief appearance at a teammate’s charity golf event Monday morning and practiced with the Panthers this week during organized team activities.

Adam Sattler, Boone’s agent, said Boone had worked out for the CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos the day before the accident at a tryout camp in North Carolina.

“It’s an unfortunate accident,” Sattler said. “He’s got a little bit of a rough road ahead. But he’s really happy he’s alive. I’m happy. When you see the damage to the car, it could’ve been a lot worse.”

Boone’s 2004 Lexus SUV, which is owned by his mother, sustained $10,000 in damages, according to the report. Thompson was driving a 2016 Chevy SUV on loan from Hendrick Chevrolet; that vehicle sustained $35,000 in damages.

Sattler said any discussions of possible legal action against Thompson would wait until Boone is further along in his recovery.

Boone, a multi-sport standout at Weddington, is the winningest quarterback in Duke history with 19 career victories. He threw for 5,789 career yards and 38 touchdowns for the Blue Devils before signing with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2015.

After the Lions cut him last June, he caught on with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL. Boone appeared in nine games last season for Montreal, which released him this month.

Sattler said Boone has been working out and also coaching quarterbacks in Charlotte while hoping to get a call from a team.

“His plan before this was to make it back into professional football either in the CFL or the NFL,” Sattler said. “He didn’t hang up his cleats.”

Sattler is uncertain how long Boone’s recovery will take. Boone sustained damaged tendons and ligaments in his left hand and fractured his hip, his agent said.

As she has spent much of this week by her son’s side in his hospital room, Jenice Boone said she has also prayed for Thompson.

“I’m a mother first,” she said. “I’ve prayed that God give (Thompson) a little peace, too, because I know it must be horrible to go through something like this. I pray for both of them at the same time.”

Staff researcher Maria David contributed.

This story was originally published May 26, 2016 at 5:34 PM with the headline "Former Duke QB Anthony Boone remains hospitalized after head-on collision."