Curtis Brinkley, an undrafted rookie running back out of Syracuse who recently signed with San Diego, is in stable condition after being shot while driving his car in Philadelphia early Friday morning. Brinkley was apparently stopped at an intersection when a man walk up to his car, shot him several times, then ran to a waiting car and sped away. Brinkley managed to drive away, and was later found by a police officer approximately a quarter-of-a-mile from where the incident occurred.
No arrests have been made.
According to WPVI-TV, Brinkley was shot in the shoulder and leg, and is awaiting surgery. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
Brinkley is a Philadelphia native, who starred at the city's West Catholic High School before jumping to Syracuse. In his four years with the Orange, he rushed for more than 2,100 yards -- including 1,164 in his senior season.
San Diego signed Brinkley as a free agent on May 27. With LaDainian Tomlinson, Darren Sproles and Michael Bennett ahead of him on the Chargers depth chart, Brinkley already faced a major uphill climb to a roster spot. Depending on his recovery time, this could end his chances on sticking with San Diego.
"This is a setback," George Brinkley, Curtis' uncle, told WPVI. "Hopefully the NFL, the Chargers, will understand the circumstances. It wasn't like he was around some unfavorable people. He was going to pick up his sister. He was innocent, not knowing what's going on, then he gets hurt.
George Brinkley also speculated that the shooting was the result of an argument between Curtis' sister and her boyfriend -- Curtis was on the way to pick his sister up when the incident occurred.
"From what I understand, [the boyfriend] saw a guy picking her up, and started shooting," George Brinkley told WPVI.
WPVI's report from the Albert Einstein Medical Center, where Brinkley is being treated, can be seen below.




