Tag: Concussion

NFL data shows record low number of concussions during the 2024 season

The NFL saw a record-low number of concussions during their 2024 campaign compared to the last decade of data they had been tracking:

The NFL has been in a tough position for a couple of years now with the concussion dilemma. Protecting the players and keeping them out of significant long-term irreparable harm needs to be the first and utmost priority of the league at all times, and that was clear during the 2024 season with the changes made.

The addition of guardian caps and making them mandatory during training camp, the new kickoff rule designed to limit extreme contact, the upgraded helmet quality entering the season due to raised standards, all of these were crucial in limiting the concussion numbers.

In an article recently published by ESPN, the latter of the group had a huge impact, with Dr. Allen Sills (the Chief Medical Officer of the NFL) stating the following, “We’re very pleased with the concussion numbers but not at all suggesting that the work is done. We still have a lot to do to continue to make the game safer and reduce not only concussions, but to reduce avoidable head impact.”

Aside from 2020, the NFL saw its lowest concussion total between preseason and regular season since the league began tracking the data in 2015. The only reason 2020 was lower was due to there not being a preseason at all during that year.

The strides taken by the league this past year have done a strong job to ensure player safety as much as they could when it came to helmets and concussions. The independent consultants that work with NFL teams (formally named unaffiliated neurotrauma consultants) have done good work in the past few seasons to try and ensure players with head trauma do not return to play. In the situations when they fail to meet expectations, the NFL has taken action, such as the case with Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins independent consultant.

Hopefully we can continue to see these numbers drop in the future, while also maintaining the integrity of the game we all know and love watching.

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Chris Olave says he feels ‘regular’ after season-ending concussion

Chris Olave missed the last eight games with a concussion. The wide receiver shared an update on his health and steps he’s taking for next season:

Chris Olave’s 2024 season was heavily compromised by concussions. The New Orleans Saints’ lead receiver has suffered a concussion every year he’s been in the NFL, and this year he suffered two concussions that kept him out for nine games.

From this point on, concussions will be concern for the wide receiver. Olave’s history makes it hard not to think about it when watching him play, similar to Tua Tagovailoa. Olave will take a look at changing helmets next year in an attempt to lower his chances of future concussions.

In his post-season interview, Olave said he felt, “regular” a couple of times and stated he felt “No symptoms, as far as concussions symptoms since I’ve been hurt.”

Every player isn’t lucky enough for symptoms not to linger, so that’s an extremely positive update. The decision to not return to the field was purely about the future.

Olave did come back to practice but was never activated. He explained: “It’s about long-term health, and that’s what I was worried about these last few games.”

It was the correct step. Darren Rizzi always stressed the Saints would prioritize the person over the player, and this is an example of that. After sitting out the remainder of the season, all signs point to him having a healthy offseason and taking the proper preventative steps for next year.

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Saints rule out Tyrann Mathieu (concussion) late vs. Buccaneers

The Saints have ruled out veteran safety Tyrann Mathieu with a concussion late in the fourth quarter against the Buccaneers:

The New Orleans Saints lost a key player midway through the fourth quarter during Sunday’s divisional rivalry game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when safety Tyrann Mathieu went down with a concussion.

It came at a particularly bad time when the Saints were trailing by just a point, after holding the momentum for the majority of the game, too.

Mathieu totaled two tackles, one of which was solo, when went down. The Saints will look to rely on Jordan Howden, who came down with a critical interception earlier in the game, to fill the large void of the Honey Badger for the rest of the way.

Mathieu entered the game with 60 combined tackles (46 solo), two forced fumbles and three interceptions this season.

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Injury update: Kendre Miller (concussion) ruled out vs. Raiders

New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller is questionable to return to Week 17’s Raiders game after entering concussion protocol:

The New Orleans Saints may be down another skills position player, as running back Kendre Miller is being evaluated for a concussion after hard contact. He was removed from the game, went to the injury tent, and ultimately went back to the locker room to be evaluated.

The Saints now have two running backs left healthy on the roster, Jamaal Williams and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. They will have to make do with an extremely depleted group of running backs and wide receivers for the remaining game and a half this season, as they continue to try and overcome this deficit. Miller has struggled immensely with injuries to this point in his career, so we will see how the results of the evaluation come back and if he did sustain a concussion.

Update: The Saints announced that Miller’s status was downgraded and he will not return to this game. It’ll be all Edwards-Helaire and Williams through the second half.

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Opinion: Saints should sit Chris Olave for the remainder of the season

Chris Olave has returned as a full participant at practice, but he shouldn’t play another game for the Saints this season. His long-term health is more important:

The Dallas Cowboys shut down CeeDee Lamb for the final weeks of the season due to a shoulder injury, and if they’re smart, the New Orleans Saints should take a page out of their book and shut down their top receiver, too. Dallas is out of playoff contention, just like New Orleans, but Chris Olave is practicing unlike Lamb.

Olave was projected as a full participant on Wednesday’s injury report. That was Christmas Day, so there was no practice which meant it was the expectation from the team medical staff. The projection was accurate, and Olave was a full participant when the Saints stepped out for Thursday’s practice. Olave remains on injured reserve.

New Orleans opened Olave’s return window last week, and he began practicing. This feels like the progression to returning to the field. If it isn’t, then it brings up one question. What’s the point of him practicing?

Is this supposed to be a sign of his progress? Darren Rizzi telling media Olave was good enough to play would have sufficed. But there’s something to be said for letting him run routes at practice and get his legs back under him before the season ends. That beats watching his teammates work from the sideline.

Olave suffered two concussions this season, and this is becoming a repeated occurrence for the young player. The last concussion was a scary one. This is a situation that has to be treated delicately.

New Orleans doesn’t have anything to play for as a team, and he’s in a much more comfortable place than other young players. This feels like a time to sit Olave down even if he’s pushing to play.

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Will Chamarri Conner play this week? Injury updates for Chiefs DB

#Chiefs defensive back Chamarri Conner is dealing with a concussion. Here are the latest updates. 

Defensive back Chamarri Conner was injured in the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 15 tilt against the Cleveland Browns.

This is the latest on his status in Week 17:

Chamarri Conner injury update

Conner took a hit to the head against the Browns that saw him placed in concussion protocol.

He was absent in Kansas City’s matchup against the Houston Texans on Saturday and did not participate in the Chiefs’ practice session on Monday.

How long will Chamarri Conner be out?

It is unlikely that Conner will be able to return in time for Kansas City’s matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day in Week 17.

Rather, it is more probable that he could get back to the field in Week 18 when the Chiefs face off against the Denver Broncos.

Chiefs DB depth chart

Rookie Christian Roland-Wallace is set to get more playing time while Conner recovers from his injury. Expect defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to get creative to minimize the effect of Conner’s absence.

Does Commanders’ roster move indicate Zach Ertz will be unavailable vs. Eagles?

The Commanders made a roster move on Tuesday.

The Washington Commanders used their off day to make a roster move. Washington placed second-year running back/wide receiver Kazmeir Allen on injured reserve. Allen is a member of the Commanders’ practice squad.

General manager Adam Peters wasted no time replacing Allen’s spot on the practice squad, signing tight end Tyree Jackson.

Who is Jackson?

The 27-year-old, 6-foot-7, 250-pound Jackson played collegiately at Buffalo and entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2019. The Bills waived Jackson during final cuts, and he was selected in the XFL draft in October 2019. In 2020, he served as Cardale Jones’ backup for the D.C. Defenders until the league suspended operations.

He signed with the Eagles in 2021 and transitioned to tight end. After two years with the Eagles, he was waived and the Giants signed him to the practice squad.

Jackson has appeared in 16 NFL games, catching three passes for 22 yards and a touchdown.

While Jackson was signed to the practice squad, the Commanders could elevate him to the 53-man roster before Sunday’s game against the Eagles. Why? Starting tight end Zach Ertz suffered a concussion in Sunday’s win over the Saints. That means Ertz will remain in the NFL’s concussion protocol until cleared.

Washington will turn to John Bates and rookie Ben Sinnott if Ertz is out next week. Bates and Sinnott have played a lot this season but haven’t been as involved in the passing game as Ertz.

Packers WR Romeo Doubs, S Evan Williams clear concussion protocol

The Packers will return WR Romeo Doubs and S Evan Williams from concussion protocol for Sunday night’s showdown with the Seahawks.

While the Green Bay Packers won’t have cornerback Jaire Alexander available for Sunday night’s showdown with the Seattle Seahawks, Matt LaFleur’s team is getting back to starters who missed time with head injuries.

LaFleur confirmed that receiver Romeo Doubs and safety Evan Williams cleared concussion protocol and will be available to play on Sunday night.

Doubs, who has 34 catches for 483 yards and two touchdowns this season, missed two games after suffering a concussion in the third quarter of the Packers’ win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Nov. 24. He practiced last week but only now passed the final stage of the league’s protocol.

Williams, who suffered his concussion at Ford Field last Thursday night, got extra recovery time with the mini-bye and cleared the protocol in time to play against the Seahawks. He’ll be an expected starter next to Xavier McKinney and an important member of a secondary that won’t have Alexander or rookie defensive back Javon Bullard due to injuries.

The Packers are also expecting to return linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, who has missed three straight games with a hamstring injury.

A final injury report will be issued later Friday afternoon.

Darren Rizzi shares update on Derek Carr’s injury

Darren Rizzi gave an update on the injury status of Saints starting quarterback Derek Carr after their win over the New York Giants:

Darren Rizzi gave an update one the status of New Orleans Saints starting quarterback Derek Carr following the injury he suffered in the 14-11 road victory over the New York Giants.

Rizzi said in the postgame press conference that Carr had suffered a left hand injury late in the fourth quarter when he tried to diving for a first down. He also mentioned something even more concerning that some thought could be the case — Carr may be in concussion protocol.

This marks the second time this season New Orleans has lost its starting quarterback, and the last time that happened, it ended with a three-game losing streak before he was able to make his return.

It will be interesting to see what Carr’s status is as the Saints continue the season with a noon CT matchup against the visiting Washington Commanders on Sunday, Dec. 15 at the Caesars Superdome.

For now, the team will have to weigh the options of turning once more to an inexperienced Jake Haener or rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler, both of whom have had a tough go at it more times than not when asked to step up in Carr’s place.

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Commanders RB Austin Ekeler gives concerning injury update

Austin Ekeler gives an injury update.

Austin Ekeler has been everything the Washington Commanders expected when they signed him early in free agency. Ekeler has contributed big plays to the running game, passing game and as Washington’s primary kick returner.

But this season has also been a struggle for the eight-year veteran. In a Week 3 win at Cincinnati, Ekeler suffered a concussion and missed the following week.

He returned in Week 5, but at the end of Washington’s Week 11 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Ekeler suffered another concussion. The Commanders placed Ekeler on injured reserve, meaning he would miss at least the next four games.

Ekeler has joined the “Grant and Danny” show all season long on 106.7 The Fan after Washington games. While he didn’t appear last week, Ekeler returned to the show on Tuesday to give an update.

“Definitely went through it there for a little bit, just with the concussion symptoms and trying to just get through the fogginess feeling, but definitely trending in the right direction,” Ekeler said Lou DiPietro of Audacy. “Now just still dealing with some repercussions of the hit, but trending in the right direction.”

It’s excellent news that Ekeler is trending in the right direction. However, the situation was touch and go last week in the days immediately after he suffered the concussion.

“I think it’s important to kind of diagnose the magnitude of the situation – like, I didn’t even remember how I got off the field. I remember kind of coming to, but I had some short-term memory loss, and all I remember was my wife was sitting in the room, and I was getting evaluated by our medical staff in the back room,” Ekeler said.

Ekeler then said his memory returned, and he remembered everything from that point forward.

Ekeler praised Washington’s medical staff, head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters for prioritizing his health over the team’s needs.

Part of the reason the Commanders placed Ekeler on IR is that he’s also dealing with neck pain since the concussion. Being on IR with Washington and also having a bye week allows Ekeler extra time to recover. But with head or neck injuries, there are no timetables. Ekeler confirmed he’s “week-to-week” and remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol program.

Ekeler also acknowledged the unknowns of concussions. Because he’s suffered two this season, does that make him more susceptible to a third concussion?

In their first game without Ekeler, the Commanders defeated the Tennessee Titans 42-19 to end a three-game losing streak. Washington rushed for 267 yards in the win.