Tom Groeschen

tgroeschen@enquirer.com

Former University of Cincinnati football star Isaiah Pead suffered career-ending injuries in a weekend automobile accident in his hometown, Columbus, according to a report.

Pead's mother told Los Angeles Rams coach Jeff Fisher that Pead will not play football again, according to a tweet from NFL.com digital content producer Lakisha Jackson. The running back began his National Football League career with the then-St. Louis Rams in 2012, and is currently a free agent.

“Our organization’s hearts and prayers go out to the Isaiah Pead family,” Fisher told reporters Sunday, with plans to send Pead the game ball from a 9-6 win over the New York Jets. “I spoke with his mom. He’s struggling, and he’s going to have a tough road. We’re hoping that he’ll come through this, but his career is over, and he was an outstanding young man while we had him.”

Also, Matt Barnes of WCMH-TV in Columbus tweeted Monday that Pead is up, breathing and talking, according to a family friend.

A UC source told The Enquirer on Monday that Pead had been on a ventilator, but since has been taken off of the machine. Pead remains listed in critical but stable condition.

The source also said that former UC defensive back Wesley Richardson, who was in the accident with Pead, also remains hospitalized and is in stable condition.

It is unknown what injuries Pead and Richardson sustained. UC football spokesman Ryan Koslen said over the weekend that Pead's injuries were "severe."

Pead was critically injured in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 670 early Saturday morning, according to WCMH-TV.

According to the Columbus Division of Police, at about 2:32 a.m. Saturday, the 26-year-old Pead was driving his 2011 Cadillac CTS eastbound on I-670 near E. Fifth Avenue, when he lost control of the vehicle, and drove off the right side of the roadway.

The Cadillac struck the metal guardrail and continued through it. After going through the guardrail, the Cadillac became airborne and struck several trees on the way down the embankment. It came to rest about 95 feet from the roadway.

During the crash, Pead was ejected from the vehicle.

Police said two witnesses stopped and called 911 and provided assistance to Pead and a passenger in the Cadillac, Richardson, 27, until police arrived at the crash scene.

Pead was taken to Grant Medical Center in critical condition. Richardson was transported in stable condition.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Pead underwent surgery that ended at approximately 7 a.m. Saturday.

Pead since has also had another surgery, a UC source said.

Pead is the third-leading rusher in UC history, with 3,288 yards from 2008-11, according to the UC football media guide.

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Pead played football at Columbus Eastmoor High School, then UC, and in the NFL most notably with the Rams, who drafted Pead in the second round in 2012. Pead is currently a free agent after he recently was released by Miami Dolphins. Pead worked out for the Kansas City Chiefs this past week, according to NBCSports.com.

Pead played sparingly while in the NFL, with 27 career rushes for 100 yards and no touchdowns. Pead caught 15 career passes, also for 100 yards, with no touchdowns.

Pead returned to Cincinnati on Sept. 29 with the Dolphins, who lost 22-7 to the Bengals in a Thursday night game. In the game, Pead rushed three times for 5 yards and caught one pass for 6 yards.