With over nine minutes remaining in the first half, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan completed a 20-yard pass to tight end Michael Palmer. As linebacker Vontaze Burfict positioned himself to make the tackle at Atlanta's 45-yard line, safety Taylor Mays entered the picture in an obvious attempt to decleat Palmer. Problem was that the tackle was being made and instead of hitting Palmer, Mays' shoulder hit Burfict in the head.
Momentarily laying on the ground, Burfict eventually made it to his feet and walked to the sidelines, taking a knee without reaching the sidelines. Medical trainers momentarily checked the linebacker before leaving the field. The Bengals announced at half time that Burfict won't return to the game, though they have yet to announce the initial prognosis. Not that we're questioning what it possibly could be.
I don't know if it was as a direct result, but Taylor Mays made a tackle undercutting a run that also hit Rey Maualuga around the legs. It was the same play that Maualuga suffered his knee sprain.