On Sunday, Bengals receiver Tee Higgins made his return after a concussion suffered the week before. However, during a Week 14 game against the Bills, he took several hard hits, prompting the Bengals to place him in the concussion protocol on Monday.
The NFL and the NFL Players Association quickly released a joint statement regarding the situation. They noted, “Tee Higgins was evaluated twice in-game and cleared to return.” After the game, he reported symptoms to the team and was placed in the protocol immediately.
It’s common for players to be re-evaluated for concussions post-game. Concussions can sometimes reveal symptoms later. But seeing Higgins take multiple hits was concerning, especially as he continued to play afterward.
After the game, Higgins communicated with reporters, stating he had no worries about playing. However, the protocol exists to safeguard players from pushing through injury, something they might naturally want to do.
Interestingly, a source familiar with the matter mentioned that there would be no investigation into the handling of Higgins’ case, as no protocol violations were suspected. Still, this incident raises questions about how concussion protocols can be refined for player safety.
According to recent studies, concussions in football remain a serious issue. The CDC estimates that up to 3.8 million sports-related concussions occur annually in the U.S. alone. Given this data, the NFL’s approach to handling these injuries is more crucial than ever.
As discussions about player safety continue, updates to protocols might be on the horizon. These changes could help ensure that players’ health comes first in the heat of the game.
For more on concussions in sports, you can read about the CDC’s guidelines here.
