League: Injuries decreased this year

Concussions also were down by 31

Injuries in the National Football League decreased this season, including concussions.

Emphasizing that players are doing more selfreporting of head injuries, the league released data Thursday that show overall concussions for the preseason and regular season were down from 275 in 2015 to 244 in 2016. That includes a drop of 16 in regular-season games to 167.

The 275 diagnosed concussions in 2015 were a high over the past five years and were an increase of 69 over the previous season. But the NFL enhanced its detection and examination protocols in that span.

“What we have to account for, too, are the additional protocols involved and the people involved in recognizing the injuries,” NFL executive Jeff Miller said. “We have seen a significant culture change on those points” — players themselves or teammates identifying what they suspect could be head injuries.

“The point of all of this … is the effort to identify the concussions when they happen so players can get the treatment as quickly and comprehensively as they can. That is why we spend so much time on the protocols.”

There were only 71 reported concussions in the preseason, the lowest in the past five years. San Francisco 49ers owner John York, chairman of the NFL Owners’ Health and Safety Advisory Committee, said his group was concerned about the number of preseason practice concussions compared to the regular season. That number was 42 in 2014, and is down to 26.

Miami didn’t follow protocol: The NFL’s concussion protocol wasn’t strictly followed when Miami Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore was treated for a hit to the chin and mouth in a first-round playoff game, the league said.

Because Moore was bleeding from the mouth, he was allowed to return to the game too quickly at Pittsburgh, the league said in a statement. The determination was made after the NFL and the NFL Players Association reviewed the case.

No disciplinary action against the Dolphins will be taken.

Shanahan stays focused: Kyle Shanahan is trying to keep the next 10 days as normal as possible. Good luck with that. The Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator is expected to become the next coach of the San Francisco 49ers. He’ll have his second interview with 49ers officials Saturday, which appears to be little more than a formality since he’s the only candidate remaining for the job.

After that, Shanahan and the rest of the Falcons will board a jet for Houston, where they’ll try to win the first championship in franchise history when they face the New England Patriots on Feb. 5.

“It’s worked out pretty good,” Shanahan said. “Getting this bye week before the Super Bowl, thank God you have two weeks to prepare for it.”