Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Mike Patterson was selected as the team’s 2011 recipient of the Ed Block Courage award.
Patterson has played the entire season despite suffering a seizure at Lehigh University during training camp that was the result of a potentially serious brain condition. Patterson’s seizure occurred in front of a full crowd of fans.
He was hospitalized and discovered to have a brain AVM, which is an arteriovenous malformation within the brain. Doctors determined that the AVM caused the seizure.
Patterson was cleared to play football two and a half weeks later, on August 20th.
He has played the entire season, starting 14 games, with 58 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble. Patterson has started more games in an Eagles uniform than any player on the current roster (105).
Patterson will likely undergo surgery for his brain AVM this offseason.
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