This Sunday, October 9, 2022 will mark the initial enforcement of the NFL updated concussion protocol rules and procedures. The update to the concussion protocol rules and procedures come in light due in part to the incident involving Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
The landmark agreement was agreed and confirmed by both the NFL and the National Football League Player Association who decided unanimously to the updated rules. The new updates in the protocol states that any player that is diagnosed with abnormality of balance or stability, dysfunctional speech or motor coordination, will be prohibited from returning to play in the game.
Both the NFLPA and the NFL agreed that modifications were needed to enhance player safety. The term, ‘Gross Motor Instability’ was the premise of the conversation to update the previous protocol. The language used in the previous protocol was incomplete and left areas for possible misinterpretation. After the incident involving Tua Tagovailoa, it was determined that protocols were followed; however, now the protocols include the term “Ataxia”. If any player is diagnosed with ataxia by team or neutral physician, – impaired balance or coordination, he will fall into the ataxia category, deeming him unable to return to play.
The amended concussion protocol may require that some NFL medical staff undergo re-training. The N.F. L.’s Chief Medical Officer, Allen Sills did not confirm, Tagovailoa suffered a concussion in the game vs. the Buffalo Bills, but concurred that the review showed the doctors took appropriate steps and made the right medical judgment based on the information provided at the time.
Just four days later, the Miami Dolphins played on a shorter week (Thursday Night Football), when Tagovailoa suffered a concussion vs. the Cincinnati Bengals. It was in the second quarter when Tua suffered the head/neck injury and was taken to a local hospital. The NFL was investigating the Buffalo game incident involving Tua, when the incident in the Bengals game occurred. The immediate outcome was a review which led to Saturday’s announcement of the concussion protocol.
