There was a scary scene Thursday night when Indianapolis Colts running back Nyheim Hines stumbled following a tackle from a Denver Broncos defender during the team’s 12-9 win in Week 5.
Hines showed gross motor instability (i.e. stumbling/falling after a hit), which is an aspect of the league’s concussion protocol that has become a major topic of discussion. After what happened to Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa just one week prior, everyone knew Hines’ night was finished.
While that scene did have a lot of viewers holding their breath for Hines’ health, head coach Frank Reich gave a positive update on the running back’s injury situaiton.
“Yeah, we saw him wobble right away. All the coaches simultaneously were on the sideline, he’s out. He’s out,” Reich told the media Friday. “Then we come in at halftime and Nyheim (Hines) is apologizing to me. He’s apologizing to me. This is the mindset, right, because he felt great. At halftime, he already felt great. He wanted to come back in and play.”
Reich, understanding the gravity of the entire situation, knew it wouldn’t be the right call to put Hines back on the field no matter how much the running back tried to convince him he was fine.
It was the type of decision where Reich knew he had to protect the player from himself in order to keep him from furthering an injury.
“I think that’s why there’s been a lot of talk about, as coaches, we have to do the right thing because you have to protect players from themselves at times,” Reich said. “That’s a perfect example of an instance where you see him take a hit like he does, you know what kind of competitor he is, and he wants to get back in the game and he certainly seemed fine talking to him. Seemed totally normal, but you have to do the right thing.”
The Colts get a few extra days of rest having played on Thursday night, but Hines is likely going to be in the league’s concussion protocol at least to begin the next week of practice when the team returns.
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