Third Jaguars player suffers a heat illness during camp

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars had their third heat-related injury of the preseason Wednesday when wide receiver Donald Hayes dropped to a knee at the end of practice.

The Jaguars had just completed a 90-minute practice session and were divided into position groups when Hayes dropped and began struggling with the 82-degree heat. Hayes, 28, never lost consciousness but started to spasm from cramps.

Paramedics assisted the Jaguars' medical staff and began giving fluids intravenously to Hayes, who weighs 220 pounds. He later was rushed into an ambulance before being transferred to Baptist Hospital. His condition was not immediately released.

"I don't have an answer for it," coach Jack Del Rio said, referring to the three incidents.

A rash of injuries

Defensive tackle Larry Smith collapsed July 27 and was hospitalized overnight. Two days later, defensive tackle John Henderson was also taken to Baptist Medical Center after experiencing shortness of breath. Both are back at practice, though Smith is currently limited to one practice a day.

"Donald is not like the two linemen that you might expect," Del Rio said. "Donald is not a bigger guy."

"I just know we've done a lot of running the last three days," fellow wide receiver J.J. Stokes said. "A lot of receivers are kind of hurt ... with nicks and dings and aren't able to perform. So it's a lot of running on all of us that are there."

The widow of Vikings lineman Korey Stringer has sued the NFL, accusing the league of fostering a "deadly culture" of abusive exercise that contributed to her husband's death. A 335-pound Pro Bowl offensive lineman, Stringer collapsed two years ago at the Vikings' training camp.

Since Stringer's death, the NFL has come under scrutiny, not only for practice conditions -- teams often hold two-a-days in 90-degree heat -- but for promoting an unhealthy lifestyle, especially among linemen. The number of linemen weighing over 300 pounds has climbed from about 80 a decade ago to about 300 today.

Hayes signed with the Jaguars as a free agent in March. He's in his sixth season having played four years with Carolina and last year with New England.