The words spoken at the podium Saturday night by New England Patriots captain Matthew Slater were simple yet so true.

“It’s a reminder,” he said, “of the fragility of life.”

You were supposed to read in this space that the Patriots indeed played their regulars and how they did for the first quarter of last night’s preseason game at Green Bay. But instead, the game was halted early in the fourth quarter after an injury to Patriots rookie cornerback Isaiah Bolden after a full speed collision in pass coverage, apparently with a teammate Calvin Munson. Bolden was tended to, players stood out on the field with concerned looks. Patriots coach Bill Belichick called over Slater, and a discussion ensued that also involved ref John Hussey and Green Bay coach Matt Lafleur.

The result? A preseason game — any game, really — matters little when compared to a potentially serious injury to a player. Time to leave the field.

Thankfully, all was handelded correctly and Bolden appears to be OK. The Patriots released a statement this morning saying Bolden was released from Aurora Bay Medical Center in Green Bay, Wisc. after being kept overnight for obversation and will fly back to Foxborough with the team today. The Patriots cancelled their joint scheduled practices in Tennessee with the Titans and will prepare for that final preseason game in Nashville at Gillette, flying out Thursday.

Belichick called it “a league decision” but it was clear after Slater’s words following the shortened game that Belichick took the lead in getting things halted. Good for him.

“I really appreciate what Coach Belichick did tonight,” Slater said. “He took the initiative on (suspending the game). That was one of the proudest moments I’ve had as a guy who’s played for him for now 16 years.”

Belichick certainly looked a little shaken after the game in a brief press conference and good for him that he said there would be a time later to engage in discussion about the game. Of course Slater agreed.

“I think our primary concern is Isaiah, his well-being,” he said. “Our entire team is praying for him and hoping things aren’t as serious as they seem.”

The Patriots statement that Bolden had feelings in his extremities certainly was good news. Contrast that with photos of Bolden taken off the field on a stretcher, and you hope that the news is truly good.

“We’re all saying a prayer for Isaiah,” Belichick said. “Appreciate the way the league handled it. I think that was the right thing to do.

The Patriots did indeed play their regulars early, Mac Jones started and looked so-so, but as often under pressure and after the first quarter he turned things over to Bailey Zappe. New England led 21-17 after a Zappe scramble for a TD when things were halted after Bolden’s injury with 10:29 left. Bolden was, some may remember, the team’s seventh round pick out of Jackson State and drew attention as the only player drafted from an HBCU in April.

Obviously, these things are never easy to see.It was a chippy week with the joint practices between the two teams and there was a dustup before the game during warmups as well.

“The game can get intense,” Pats receiver Kendrick Bourne, who connected with Jones a couple of times, one a great leaping catch, told the media after. “We’re out there trying to hit each other. …”

Of course the whole scenario was a reminder of seven months ago when Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest during a Monday Night game at Cincinnati. You step away from the TV after watching players in motion, and you return to see players standing around, concerned while medical personnel tend to a fallen teammate or opponent.

We’d like to say there won’t, but there will likely be more moments like this during the course of the upcoming season.

Football is violent, and the players are put in a situation, to used Slater’s word, that is fragile.

Tom King can be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or on twitter @Telegraph _TomK.