Virginia running back Perris Jones underwent successful spinal surgery on Friday, hours after a scary head collision left him immobilized on the field in Louisville.

The scary scenes unfolded in the third quarter of the NCAA college football game between the two sides on Thursday, when Jones took a hard hit to the helmet and immediately collapsed to the floor.

He received medical attention on the field and was wheeled off on a stretcher, before heading to hospital – where he remains now.

The team provided an update on his condition on Saturday lunchtime, revealing that the young player underwent successful spinal surgery on Friday – leading to him being able to ‘briefly walk’ on Saturday morning.

The full statement read: ‘Perris Jones underwent successful spine surgery Friday at the UofL Medical Center. Today, Perris was able to briefly walk. 

Virginia running back Perris Jones (2) was injured in this head-to-head collision on Thursday

The game was halted and players from both sidelines huddled around Jones as he was helped

‘He remains under observation and will be transferred to the Frazier Rehabilitation Institute in Louisville for continued care when his medical team deems appropriate.’ 

In the incident, Jones caught a 7-yard pass from Anthony Colandrea and was starting to run upfield when he fumbled after a hard hit on his helmet by Cam’Ron Kelly with several other Cardinals nearby. 

Malik Washington scooped up the ball near the right sideline and dashed down the field for the go-ahead touchdown to make 21-14.

Read Related Also: Wisconsin man sentenced to prison for homicide after burying ex-girlfriend under furniture pile

Kelly said the play opened up for him to make the tackle and indicated that Jones tried to go low and he went low, too.

In a statement on Saturday, UVA confirmed he underwent successful spinal surgery Friday

Fans and players applauded Jones as the cart left the field and he was taken to UofL Hospital 

‘I’m just praying for him,’ Kelly said. ‘I said my piece to him when he was on the stretcher. I´ve got nothing but love for him. I hope he has a speedy recovery.’

Spectators in L&N Stadium fell silent as medical personnel from Virginia and Louisville quickly rushed to tend to Jones as he lay on the turf, and a cart quickly entered the field.

Players from both teams knelt for about 15 minutes as Jones was treated and gently lifted onto the board with his head wrapped between two pads, and then onto the cart as Cavaliers players gathered around.

Fans and players applauded Jones as the cart left the field. He was taken to UofL Hospital for observation and coach Tony Elliott said after the game that Jones was going to have an MRI.

Cavaliers players and staff kneel following the scary incident in Thursday night’s game

‘We are getting some encouraging news, but I don´t want say anything until we get it officially,’ Elliott said.

‘It´s a very, very difficult reality of the sport that we play, that every play can end that way, and you don´t wish that for anybody. Man, I know one thing: (Perris Jones) is a tough young man and he lays it on the line every time he goes out there for this football team. 

‘(We´re) believing and praying that he´s going to have a full recovery. I´m putting that in the Lord´s hands and I´m asking for that in advance and believing that that´s going to be the case.’

Louisville rallied to beat Virginia 31-24.