Former New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez has been hospitalised in Indianapolis following an altercation that led to him being stabbed.

Sanchez, who was in town in his role as a Fox Sports analyst to commentate on the game between the hometown Colts and Las Vegas Raiders, was initially thought to have been the victim in the incident, which occurred outside Loughmiller’s Pub & Eatery, but subsequent information released by the Indianapolis Police Department now suggests otherwise.

Police responded to reports of multiple stabbings and ordered a lock down of the area near Washington Street just after midnight on Friday, where Sanchez — who also played in Philadelphia, Dallas, Washington and Chicago during a nine-year NFL career — was discovered, along with a 69-year-old food delivery driver. The driver admitted to stabbing Sanchez in the chest after being confronted by the 38-year-old, but claimed to have been acting in self-defence after being pepper-sprayed.

While the driver was arrested, Sanchez was transported to Eskenazi Hospital, where he underwent surgery and was being listed as ‘stable’. The story took an unexpected twist, however, when police arrived at the hospital and arrested Sanchez on charges of ‘battery with injury, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle and public intoxication’ according to an official statement, which all confirmed that ‘no further individuals are being sought by detectives’.

The incident naturally drew shock and concern from the sports and media communities, much of it before the revelation of Sanchez’s arrest was made public, while Fox Sports issued a statement asking for respect for the Sanchez family.

“We are deeply grateful to the medical team for their exceptional care and support,” the statement read. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark, and we ask that everyone please respect his and his family’s privacy during this time.”

Sanchez will be replaced by fellow analyst Brady Quinn for the Colts-Raiders commentary.