It's a tough pill to swallow: Seeing a player like Tee Higgins back on the field after a concussion raises serious questions about player safety in the NFL. On Sunday, the Cincinnati Bengals' wide receiver, Tee Higgins, returned to the game after suffering a concussion in Week 12 against the New England Patriots. Unfortunately, during a Week 14 game against the Buffalo Bills, Higgins' helmet hit the playing surface multiple times. This led to the Bengals placing him back in the concussion protocol.
The NFL and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) issued a joint statement on Monday evening. They explained that Higgins was evaluated twice during the game and cleared to return. After the game, during a postgame evaluation, he reported symptoms to the team and was immediately put into the concussion protocol.
This is standard procedure. Players who are checked for concussions during games are always checked again afterward. But here's where it gets controversial: Concussion symptoms don't always appear immediately.
The situation was difficult to watch. Higgins, who sustained his initial concussion when his helmet hit the artificial turf in Cincinnati, experienced the same thing multiple times on the artificial turf in Buffalo. It was uncomfortable to see Higgins continue playing.
After the game, Higgins told reporters he had no concerns about playing. The protocol is in place to protect players, even when their natural instinct is to keep playing.
According to a source, there will be no investigation into how Higgins' situation was handled because there's no evidence of protocol violations. However, this situation presents an opportunity to potentially refine the protocol for players returning from concussions.
What are your thoughts on this? Do you think the current concussion protocol is sufficient, or could it be improved? Share your opinions in the comments below!
