The NFL’s gamers union mentioned Friday it has agreed to adjustments to the concussion protocols and needs the revisions in place for Sunday’s video games.
The NFL didn’t decide to the union’s timeline however mentioned it agrees that adjustments to the concussion protocols are mandatory.
The decision for adjustments to guard gamers comes after questions have been raised following accidents to Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa, 24, was hit and appeared woozy throughout a Sept. 25 sport towards the Payments however later returned to the sector. He was allowed to play in a sport towards the Bengals 4 days later and was stretchered off the sector with what the staff mentioned is a concussion.
“Our union has agreed to vary the concussion protocols to guard gamers from returning to play within the case of any comparable incident to what we noticed on September 25,” the NFL Gamers Affiliation’s board and govt committee mentioned.
“We want these adjustments to enter impact earlier than this weekend’s video games to instantly shield the gamers and hope the NFL accepts the change earlier than then as effectively,” the union, often called the NFLPA, mentioned.
The NFL mentioned in a press release that it agreed adjustments have to be made, however it made no point out of adjustments by this Sunday when the following video games happen.
“As we’ve got mentioned with the NFLPA, we agree that adjustments to the joint NFL-NFLPA protocols are essential to additional improve participant security. We have now already spoken to members of the NFL Head, Neck and Backbone Committee and the management of the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultants and Impartial Licensed Athletic Trainers who function spotters to debate these doubtless adjustments,” the league mentioned.
The concussion protocol was established in 2011 and units guidelines for the prognosis and therapy of concussions. Partly, it requires an unaffiliated neurotrauma marketing consultant to be current on the sidelines and targeted on the figuring out indicators and signs of a concussion.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel mentioned final week that Tagovailoa didn’t endure a head damage within the Sept. 25 sport towards the Payments, and McDaniel mentioned that he was “adamant” that Tagovailoa be evaluated for one.
The marketing consultant who cleared Tagovailoa to return to that sport has since been fired. The consultants are employed collectively by the gamers union and the league underneath its concussion protocol.
When Tagovailoa was slammed to the sector within the Sept. 29 sport towards the Bengals in Cincinnati, he lay on the bottom and his arms got here up in what an skilled mentioned was a fencing posture, which is indicative of a critical blow to the pinnacle or neck and brainstem damage.
Tagovailoa is out this week with a concussion, and no return date has been given. An NFL damage report for Week 5 launched Friday exhibits a concussion but additionally again and ankle points.
The three-1 Dolphins play the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday.
