Tag: nfl concussion protocol

What’s the injury status of two key Commanders ahead of Week 16?

What’s the latest on Jeremy Chinn and Zach Ertz?

The Washington Commanders (9-5) have a big game this weekend. Washington hosts the Philadelphia Eagles (12-2) in a rematch from Week 11. While the Eagles won the first game, it wasn’t easy, as Washington controlled the game through three quarters before wearing down in the fourth quarter.

The NFC East remains a possibility but a distant one. Philly has a three-game lead with three games remaining, and it’s difficult to see the Eagles — who have won 10 straight games — losing three in a row to end the regular season.

The Commanders look to remain in control of the seventh seed in the NFC playoffs, but they could be without key starters against the Eagles.

Tight end Zach Ertz and safety Jeremy Chinn are in the NFL concussion protocol after suffering concussions in last week’s win over the Saints. Chinn surprised everyone by participating in practice on Wednesday, although he was limited.

It was the same situation on Thursday for Chinn.

Ertz missed practice on Wednesday, but he never practices on Wednesdays. Like Chinn, Ertz was limited on Thursday.

It’s difficult to assess a player’s availability regarding head injuries. However, it is a good sign that Chinn and Ertz are on the practice field. Their situations will likely come down to Saturday’s deadline to elevate players from the practice squad.

Commanders give concerning injury updates to a pair of key starters

Two key Commanders could be in jeopardy of missing Week 16 game vs. Eagles.

The Washington Commanders entered Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints without two of their top four receivers. Running back Austin Ekeler landed on injured reserve after Week 12 with a concussion, while wide receiver Noah Brown was placed on IR on Saturday.

That left wide receiver Terry McLaurin and tight end Zach Ertz as Washington’s primary pass catchers.

McLaurin was phenomenal again, catching seven passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns. He has 11 receiving touchdowns, second in the NFL to Ja’Marr Chase — with three games remaining.

Ertz made his presence felt on Sunday, too, making a beautiful one-handed catch, giving the Commanders a first-and-goal from the three-yard line. However, on the play, Ertz landed hard on the ground and slowly got up before entering the medical tent.

He was quickly ruled out with a concussion.

In the second half, starting safety Jeremy Chinn also departed the game with a concussion and did not return. Now, both key starters are in the NFL’s concussion protocol ahead of Washington’s important Week 16 showdown against the Eagles.

“Both Zach and Jeremy are in our concussion protocol, and so we’ll follow each step along the way,” Quinn said Monday. 

Quinn was asked specifically about Ertz and if his absence changes the usage of specific players and formations.

“Yeah, as it goes you would, there’s a couple of ways to think about that,” Quinn continued. “It could be some of the big guy stuff in the run game, just like you suggested, which is definitely a viable plan. And then there’s also the other way, how do you incorporate the backs more they can get outside to move and different types of sets. So, some don’t include a tight end with two halfbacks in the game and three receivers. And so, utilizing different packages will be part of that.”

Ertz has been a safety valve for quarterback Jayden Daniels this season.

Chinn has started every game for Washington and is second on the team in tackles with 93, trailing only Bobby Wagner.

Losing either or both would severely limit the Commanders’ chances of upsetting the Eagles next week.

Jaguars star DE clears concussion protocol, will play vs. Colts

Jaguars star DE clears concussion protocol, will play vs. Colts

Jaguars star defensive end Josh Hines-Allen cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol on Saturday and will play against the Colts Sunday in Week 5, the club announced.

Hines-Allen entered concussion protocol after exiting Jacksonville’s Week 4 loss to Houston, following a collision during a six-yard rush by Texans running back J.J. Taylor.

After practicing in a limited capacity on Thursday and Friday, the Jaguars gave Hines-Allen a questionable status for Week 5 on their final injury report. He no longer carries a status into Sunday’s game.

Hines-Allen has recorded 12 total tackles including one for loss, one sack, two defended passes and six quarterback hits through four games this season, after signing a five-year, $141.3 million contract extension with the Jaguars in April.

Through 78 career appearances with Jacksonville, Hines-Allen has compiled 264 tackles with 54 for loss, 46 sacks, two interceptions, 10 defended passes and nine forced fumbles.

The Jaguars and Colts’ Week 5, AFC South matchup is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla.

Pederson thinks Jaguars DE Josh Hines-Allen is in concussion protocol

Pederson thinks Jaguars DE Josh Hines-Allen is in concussion protocol

Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson shared his belief that star defensive end Josh Hines-Allen entered the NFL’s concussion protocol amid the Jaguars’ 24-20 loss to Texans in Houston on Sunday.

Hines-Allen briefly exited the contest with over five minutes left in the third quarter, after a six-yard rush by Texans running back J.J. Taylor. He re-entered the game two plays later for one rep but was ultimately pulled from action during Houston’s next drive.

“I’ll talk to Ferg (Jaguars vice president of player health and performance Jeff Ferguson), see what he says. But, I think so, yes,” Pederson said post-game, asked if Hines-Allen had entered concussion protocol.

Hines-Allen finished the game with three total tackles and two quarterback hits.

Through four games after signing a five-year, $141.3 million contract extension with Jacksonville in April, Hines-Allen has accumulated 12 total tackles including one for loss, one sack, two defended passes and six quarterback hits.

Pro Football Focus credits Hines-Allen for generating 10 quarterback pressures through the season’s first three weeks. The outlet had not charted the edge rusher’s Week 4 performance at press time.

Commanders rookie DB Quan Martin in concussion protocol

The rookie played only on special teams in Week 1.

The Washington Commanders opened the 2023 NFL season with a 20-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Fortunately, Washington escaped Week 1 with no serious injuries.

But not everyone came out of Sunday 100%.

Head coach Ron Rivera released during his Monday press conference that rookie defensive Quan Martin was in the NFL’s concussion protocol. The second-round pick from Illinois played 18 snaps in his NFL debut — all on special teams.

Martin impressed throughout the summer but had struggled some in the preseason. The Commanders are having Martin learn multiple positions, and they went with a tighter defensive back rotation on Sunday. Kendall Fuller, Benjamin St-Juste, Darrick Forrest and Kamren Curl played every defensive snap, while fellow rookie Emmanuel Forbes [65%] and Percy Butler [53%] also played.

The Commanders are on the road in Week 2 as they face the Denver Broncos.

Commanders WR Cam Sims is in concussion protocol

No Cam Sims in Washington’s preseason finale.

Washington Commanders wide receiver Cam Sims had an impressive touchdown reception in last week’s preseason loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Now, the fifth-year wideout is in the NFL’s concussion protocol per head coach Ron Rivera.

“He’s in the [concussion] protocol so far, he’s managing and, and getting through it,” Rivera said of Sims.

While Rivera didn’t get into specifics, just before Sims’ impressive TD grab against the Chiefs, he was hit and landed hard on the ground. Here is a video of the play, courtesy of Twitter.

Rivera was asked if Sims would play this weekend, to which the coach shot down.

“Probably not,” Rivera answered. “We did report him early in the week. He has progressed in the protocol, but he also starts to go through the steps. I mean, it really is a full week process if it’s done properly for the player and that’s what we’re trying to make sure everything’s fine with him.”

There’s no need for Sims to play in the preseason finale, even if he was 100%. Sims is a roster lock as a reserve wide receiver and standout on special teams.

 

Rookie cornerback Benjamin St-Juste is in concussion protocol

Benjamin St-Juste had his best NFL game on Sunday.

Washington rookie cornerback Benjamin St-Juste is in the NFL’s concussion protocol, head coach Ron Rivera said on Wednesday.

At some point in Washington’s 43-21 loss to the Bills, St-Juste suffered a head injury and left the game. He was examined and cleared to return.

Rivera spoke on St-Juste’s situation Wednesday.

“He took a shot and came out during the game,” Rivera said in his post-practice presser. “He was examined; he was put back in because he looked pretty good.”

St-Juste recorded seven tackles against the Bills on Sunday. According to Pro Football Focus, St-Juste recorded the highest grade of his rookie season on Sunday. St-Juste finished the game with a grade of 70.3.

Rivera discussed that while St-Juste was cleared to return in Sunday’s game, he wasn’t feeling well on Wednesday:

Apparently, when he got back and things settled in, and he didn’t feel well today, so we had him see the doctors and be safe and figure out what was going on. It’s one of those things that was unfortunately just a reaction, and he really didn’t feel bad until today. 

Washington faces the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, and if St-Juste can’t go, that means we would see more of Torry McTyer. Veteran Darryl Roberts could also be active for the first time.

The 5 steps Patrick Mahomes must clear in NFL concussion protocol

There are five steps Patrick Mahomes must clear to be available for the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game

The biggest issue of the week leading up to NFL Championship Games weekend is whether Patrick Mahomes will clear concussion protocol and be able to play for the Kansas City Chiefs against the Buffalo Bills.

The league has strict rules that the Super Bowl MVP has to clear in order to be available for the AFC Championship Game on Jan. 24 at Arrowhead Stadium.

Per NFL.com:

Every NFL player diagnosed with a concussion must follow a five-step process before being cleared to fully practice or participate in an NFL game. This process, developed from internationally accepted guidelines, ensures that each player receives consistent treatment.

Each player and each concussion is unique, and there is no set time-frame for return to participation. Team medical staff consider the player’s current concussive injury, as well as past exposures and medical history, family history and future risk in managing a player’s care.

After a player has progressed through the five-step process, and is cleared for full participation by his club physician, he must be seen and separately cleared by an Independent Neurological Consultant (INC), jointly approved by the NFL and NFLPA, who is not affiliated with any NFL club. Until cleared by this independent physician, a player may not return to contact practice or play in an NFL game.
The five steps:
Step 1: Symptom Limited Activity

The player is prescribed rest, limiting or, if necessary, avoiding activities (both physical and cognitive) that increase or aggravate symptoms. Under athletic training staff supervision, limited stretching and balance training can be introduced, progressing to light aerobic exercise, all as tolerated.

Step 2: Aerobic Exercise

Under direct oversight of the team’s medical staff, the player should begin graduated cardiovascular exercise and may also engage in dynamic stretching and balance training. Neorocognitive and balance testing can be administered after completion of Phase Two and the results should be interpreted as back to baseline.

Step 3: Football Specific Exercise

The player continues with supervised cardiovascular exercises that are increased and may mimic sport-specific activities, and supervised strength training is introduced. The players is allowed to practice with the team in sport-specific exercise for 30 minutes or less with ongoing and careful monitoring.

Step 4: Club-Based Non-Contact Training Drills

The player continues cardiovascular, strength and balance training, team-based sport-specific exercise, and participates in non-contact football activities (e.g. throwing, catching, running, and other position-specific activities). Neurocognitive and balance testing should be completed no later than the end of Phase Four with the results interpreted as back to baseline.

Step 5: Full Football Activity/Clearance

Upon clearance by the Club physician for full football activity involving contact, the player must be examined by the Independent Neurological Consultant (INC) assigned to his Club. If the INC concurs with the Club physician that the player’s concussion has resolved, he may participate in his Club’s next practice or game.

The injury report updates later in the week will provide insight into whether the Chiefs enter the game with Mahomes or have to start Chad Henne, who came on after the QB suffered the concussion on a hit by the Cleveland Browns’ Al Wilson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mrsM9y8OTA