Concussion protocol not new to Goodwin
Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin has been in the NFL’s concussion protocol at least five times in his career, but he said he has had only three concussions and is not concerned about his long-term health.
“I’ve never worried in regards to concussions,” Goodwin said. “Obviously, I want to stay safe and not have to deal with any of it.”
Goodwin, 26, who suffered a concussion Oct. 1 at Arizona, has been in the NFL’s concussion protocol five times since 2014, including four times in the past 14 months. Goodwin acknowledges only three concussions. Before his most recent, he suffered one in 2014 and one in 2016.
It is possible for a player suspected to have a concussion to enter the protocol without having a concussion.
Goodwin, then with the Bills, reportedly entered the concussion protocol in August 2016 after his head hit the ground during a trainingcamp practice. He was also reportedly in the concussion protocol in September 2016 after his head hit the ground in a game against the Jets, but he was out of the protocol when the Bills had their next practice four days later.
Goodwin said he didn’t suffer a concussion in those instances. Goodwin suggested his natural sensitivity to light has placed him in the concussion protocol.
“There’s more than a few things that define what an actual concussion is,” Goodwin said. “You can have a symptom. Like, two of my three have been my sensitivity to light. No headache. No unconsciousness, but it gets labeled as a concussion because you have a symptom.”
Goodwin, who signed a two-year, $6 million deal in March, was an accomplished long jumper who finished 10th at the 2012 Olympics. In 2016, he finished seventh at the 2016 U.S. Olympic trials and didn’t qualify for the Games in Rio.
Goodwin said he hasn’t considered leaving the NFL to focus on a track career.
“I really don’t think about that type of stuff,” Goodwin said. “It’s just not a big concern of mine. I’ll leave the game when I feel like I’m ready to. And hopefully, God willing, it will be my own will. Other than that, I really don’t think about that.” Injury report: Fullback Kyle Juszczyk (back) returned to practice after missing the past two games and said he will play Sunday at Philadelphia, barring a setback.
In other injury news, right tackle Trent Brown (concussion), guard Brandon Fusco (biceps), defensive end Aaron Lynch (calf ), left tackle Joe Staley (knee) and cornerback K’Waun Williams (quadricep) did not practice.