NFL, NFLPA Issue Statement on Josh Allen’s Concussion Evaluation in Bills vs. Texans

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVOctober 11, 2024

Alex Slitz/Getty Images

It appeared as though Josh Allen may have suffered a concussion and perhaps been knocked unconscious during Sunday’s 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans after his head slammed against the ground. He was taken to the medical tent for evaluation and appeared to be administered smelling salts.

That made it surprising when he returned to the game, but on Friday, the NFL and NFLPA announced that the proper protocols took place:

Tom Pelissero @TomPelisseroBoth the league and union reviewed the video of the play and came to the same conclusion as the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultants, booth spotters and team medical staff: There was no loss of consciousness. https://t.co/ELtvP3BvPL

Despite the NFL and NFLPA’s statement on Friday, the handling of the situation caused a great deal of concern in its aftermath.

“The more I watch this video, the more I’m troubled about what happened,” neuroscientist Chris Nowinski, the co-founder of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, told CNN’s Brianna Keilar and Boris Sanchez on Tuesday.

He continued:

“As Allen was going down, you see he is raising his left arm to protect his head, which is a very natural movement when you’re falling like that, and then after his head bounces so high off the ground, that arm goes limp and you see his wrist catch against the ground which can break your wrist. That’s something that any athlete if they were aware would avoid, so I really do think he was unconscious there for a moment after that hit… Ethically, the idea that he was trying to be a hero and no one told him: ‘Hey dude, you were knocked out, your teammates had to roll you over’ really makes you wonder what happened here and this does need to be investigated.”A number of former players also were critical of how the situation was handled:

Emmanuel Acho @EmmanuelAchoWe all saw Josh Allen seemingly get knocked out, yet they just threw him a smelling salt and right back into the game. As if that was going to undo any head trauma he just suffered. 🤦🏾‍♂️ https://t.co/E4VqSghsLv pic.twitter.com/LNydTMPgm2

Chase Daniel @ChaseDanielIf they let Josh Allen back into the game after he clearly smashed his head on the turf then the entire concussion process is flawed. He looked like he was out https://t.co/dOVnvTL8xG

Allen said after the game he felt OK following the hit, however.

“Big shot to the chest. Rolled my ankle,” Allen told reporters after the game regarding injuries he suffered a play prior to his head hitting the ground. “They flagged me for hitting my head, but felt good enough to go back in.”

The Bills also said after the contest that Allen had properly cleared the concussion protocol. The NFL and NFLPA, after reviewing the situation, came to the same conclusion.