The NFL and NFLPA will review their concussion-reporting policy after New England Patriots wide receiver DeVante Parker nearly continued playing despite sustaining a head injury during Monday's game, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Parker responded to the news on Twitter Tuesday and appears anxious to hear the results of the investigation.
Please tell me https://t.co/NyeXMMTtz6
— DeVante Parker (@DeVanteParker11) December 13, 2022
Parker sustained the injury in the first quarter of Monday's game against the Arizona Cardinals. Parker made a catch on a slant route to pick up a first down. Cardinals cornerback Antonio Hamilton landed on Parker awkwardly, causing the ball to come out at the end of the play.
The Patriots tried to quickly run up to the line in case the Cardinals wanted to challenge whether Parker caught the ball. Patriots receiver Nelson Agholor noticed Parker was wobbly and slow getting lined up, so Agholor took a knee and tried to wave at officials to stop the game.
His pleas were successful. Officials stopped the game so Parker could leave the field. He eventually left the game and did not return due to a head injury.
Troy Aikman and Nelson Agholor knew that something was wrong with DeVante Parker, even if the officials and concussion spotter didn't seem to.
"They're going to be watching him… somebody upstairs should be. He looked a little wobbly coming up…"- Aikman pic.twitter.com/SkmUioWDpF
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 13, 2022
The Cardinals did challenge the play, but it was determined Parker completed the catch and was tackled before the ball came out.
NFL under scrutiny for how it handles head injuries
The fact that Parker nearly lined up for another play is troubling, especially after the league vowed to refine its policy for reporting injuries. Spotters at each game are tasked with identifying whether players need to leave contests due to potential head injuries.
The Miami Dolphins found themselves at the center of the issue after quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was allowed to re-enter a game after wobbling and dropping to the ground after taking a hit. The Dolphins said Tagovailoa sustained a back injury, which allowed him to go back into the contest. The NFLPA initiated an investigation into the situation after Tagovailoa was allowed to return. Tagovailoa then sustained a concussion and was knocked unconscious during the team's next game, just a few days later.
The NFL and NFLPA revised their concussion protocol shortly after Tagovailoa's injury.
The Dolphins once again found themselves in the center of the concussion discussion after Teddy Bridgewater left the team's next game after the revised protocols were announced.
While the league has made strides to crack down on head injuries, Monday's error shows there's still work to be done. Credit to Agholor for noticing something was wrong and making officials stop the game before Parker continued playing.
That's not supposed to be Agholor's job, but it's a good thing he stepped in.
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