Chung’s Concussion Triggers NFL Review
The NFL strengthened its concussion protocol this offseason and added a third set of eyes at each game to specifically monitor the TV broadcast for signs of concussions. But the new system still seemed to fail Patriots safety Patrick Chung.
An NFL spokesman told the Globe Tuesday, “A joint review by the NFL and NFLPA of the application of the Concussion Protocol regarding New England safety Patrick Chung during the PatriotsJaguars game is underway.”
Chung, the Patriots’ strong safety, didn’t play in the second half of Sunday’s 31-20 loss to the Jaguars in Jacksonville, Fla., after he was diagnosed with a concussion at halftime. Yet Chung appeared to suffer the injury early in the second quarter, and after leaving the game for one snap, he returned and played 14 defensive snaps plus two on special teams.
The CBS game feed provided some evidence that Chung may have suffered a head injury, but neither of the two concussion spotters in the press box, nor the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant watching the broadcast, ordered that Chung be checked for a concussion.
It wasn’t until after halftime, when Chung didn’t come out of the locker room with his teammates, that it was announced he had a concussion and would be out for the rest of the game.
The degree of Chung’s concussion is unclear, and coach Bill Belichick had no update on him when asked on a Tuesday morning conference call. The Patriots don’t return to practice until Wednesday.
Belichick said he didn’t know whether Chung was checked for a concussion in the second quarter because he was busy coaching the game.
“I don’t know whether they did or didn’t,” said Belichick. “Those are medical procedures, and some of that is dictated by things from upstairs from the neutral physician, and then that goes to our medical department.
“I’m trying to coach the game. I don’t have time for a conversation with those guys. If the player is cleared, he’s cleared. If he’s not cleared, then he’s not cleared.”
Chung took a hit to his facemask from Jaguars tight end Niles Paul on a 1-yard run by Corey Grant with about 12:45 left in the second quarter.
The CBS broadcast showed Chung remaining on the ground for a couple of seconds after the play, grabbing his helmet.
Umpire Barry Anderson quickly acknowledged Chung’s injury, stopped the game, and ordered Chung to the sideline.
While Nate Ebner replaced Chung on the next snap, the CBS broadcast briefly showed Patriots team doctor Mark Price speaking with Chung on the sideline and patting him on the back.
Chung returned for the next play. Belichick said he was never told in the second quarter that Chung wasn’t medically cleared to play. He also doesn’t know whether Chung was checked for a concussion.
“That’s really a medical question that I can’t answer,” he said. “I don’t talk to the NFL medical people [at the game]. I’m never in communication with them at all. Never.”
This past offseason, the NFL strengthened its concussion protocol to avoid this type of situation, adding a third unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant (UNC) to each game after Houston quarterback Tom Savage suffered a vicious concussion last December that went unnoticed.