The family of the truck driver who was reportedly assaulted by Mark Sanchez has stated that he is recovering well, even though distressing images of his injuries have surfaced online.

Sanchez, known for his past as an NFL quarterback and his role as a Fox TV analyst, found himself hospitalized with severe injuries following a stabbing incident with the driver near Loughmiller’s Pub & Eatery in downtown Indianapolis early Saturday morning.

In addition to his injuries, the 38-year-old was detained by the Indianapolis police on charges of battery resulting in injury, unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, and public intoxication after the confrontation.

TMZ Sports reported that he was released from hospital on Sunday, before being sent straight to jail to be processed over the shocking brawl – which he is accused of starting. The outlet added that his $300 cash bond had already been paid by his attorney.

Graphic pictures of the driver with a huge gash on his face while wearing a neck brace in his hospital bed also emerged on Sunday, but his family told The New York Post that he is ‘ok’. 

‘We are talking to lawyers first. We want to be careful what’s said. We appreciate that,’ they reportedly added while noting they were in shock that the ex-football star attacked their loved one.

‘His family says he was cut in the fight and it went through his cheek and hit his tongue,’ Fox59 anchor Angela Ganote added.

Sanchez, who shares two children with Hollywood-star wife Perry Mattfeld, was in Indianapolis to cover the Colts’ game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Following his hospitalization and arrest, he was replaced in the booth by another ex-quarterback, former Notre Dame star Brady Quinn.

It is currently unclear if he was released or remained in custody overnight after being processed through jail. Daily Mail has reached out to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and Sanchez’s management for more information. 

The former New York Jets star allegedly accosted the truck driver, who believed he was in danger, at a loading dock in downtown Indianapolis, according to an affidavit obtained by ESPN. 

As the confrontation escalated, the driver, out of fear, is said to have sprayed him in the face with pepper spray. 

Sanchez reportedly continued to advance towards the driver, who thought he was ‘trying to kill me’ and therefore pulled a knife, striking him ‘two or three times.’ 

The driver said he was then thrown against a dumpster, leaving him to believe he was in a ‘life-or-death situation,’ before a ‘look of shock’ came over Sanchez’s face and he took off.

Sanchez reportedly told a police officer that ‘all he could remember was grabbing for a window.’ He added that he didn’t know who stabbed him or where the incident occurred.

He is said to have sustained multiple stab wounds to his right torso. The driver also suffered a laceration on his left cheek and was taken to a different hospital than the Fox broadcaster for treatment. 

He told police that the dispute started over Sanchez telling him that he was barred from standing in the loading dock, per the orders of the hotel manager, according to TMZ. 

He claimed that he could smell alcohol on his breath and that he was slurring his words.

TMZ’s Michael J. Babcock also reported that Sanchez had no recollection of what happened during the incident, according to someone who spoke with the ex-passer on Saturday morning.

Babcock added that he was ‘very out of it’ during that conversation due to being sedated.

More details of Sanchez’s behavior on the night later emerged, with Fox59 reporting – via a source – that he was doing ‘wind sprints’ in the alleyway shortly before the violent altercation occurred. 

It is also claimed that the ex-passer wasn’t cooperative with responding police officers at the scene.