The NFL and NFLPA have revealed the concussion protocol was correctly administered to evaluate and clear Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen in Week 5.
On Sunday, the Bills fell 23-20 to the Houston Texans with Allen struggling immensely. The quarterback completed just nine of 30 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown while opposing star C.J. Stroud put up 331 yards and a touchdown as the Texans clinched a crucial win at home over an AFC rival.
With just over six minutes left in the game, the Bills were on third-and-8 from their own 42-yard line when Allen ran to his right to try to fire a pass downfield toward wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling. As Allen threw, he was tackled by Houston defensive tackle Mario Edwards, leading to the quarterback’s head bouncing off the turf .
Allen ultimately missed two minutes and thirty seconds of game time, covered across six minutes and six seconds of actual time. The Bills quarterback was also offered smelling salts before he re-entered the game.
The 28-year-old appeared to lose consciousness upon hitting his head. Allen was assessed by athletic trainers on the field before walking off to the bench, and he ultimately missed one offensive snap with the Texans receiving a punt and calling four offensive plays.
The NFL and NFLPA reviewed the footage of the play and agreed that Allen did not pass out. It was one of the same conclusions made by the neurotrauma consultants, booth spotters, and team medical staff.
“The NFL and NFLPA have reviewed the reports from the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant and Booth Spotters and those reports confirm that the steps required by the concussion protocol were followed in the evaluation and clearance of Bills' quarterback Josh Allen in last Sunday's game,” a statement by the NFL and NFLPA read. “The protocol has been jointly developed and is jointly administered by the NFL and NFLPA.
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“Under that program, the parties jointly identify, retain, and train the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultants and Booth Spotters.”
After the game, Allen claimed he simply took a “big shot to the chest” and rolled his ankle. He added: “They flagged me for hitting my head, but felt good enough to go back in the game.”
Concern stemmed over whether the evaluation was performed slowly and deliberately enough to reach a preferred conclusion, whereas Allen should have had a locker-room evaluation or taken out of the game. On Wednesday, Allen said: “I obviously went into the tent. I can only control what I can control.
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“What we talked about there, they deemed me cleared to play, and that's what happened. That's as deep as I'll get into it.”
Along with his left-hand injury suffered in Week 1, Allen is also on the injury report with an ankle issue heading into Week 6. The 3-2 Bills take on the 2-3 New York Jets on Monday Night Football on Monday, Oct. 14.
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