Jaxson Dart was evaluated for a concussion on Thursday night before quickly returning to the game.
Jaxson Dart concussion investigation, explained: Why Brian Daboll, Giants could be punished for violating NFL rules originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The NFL and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) initiated a joint review into the ' handling of the concussion protocol involving rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart during Thursday night's victory against the .
Dart, who was making the third start of his career, was forced to exit the game late in the third quarter after taking a hard hit to the head on a scramble that resulted in a sack. Dart was quickly evaluated in the blue medical tent and cleared to return to the game. There was also a confrontation between Brian Daboll and the team doctor on the sidelines that was shown during the broadcast, and with the swiftness of his re-entry, a mandatory inquiry was triggered.
Let's dive into the NFL's decision and what happened Thursday night.
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Did Jaxson Dart suffer a concussion?
No, Jaxson Dart was cleared from the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Dart was forced to enter the protocol late in the third quarter of the Thursday Night Football game against the Philadelphia Eagles after taking a hard hit while being sacked. He was immediately taken to the blue medical tent for evaluation by team physicians and the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant.
After missing only a couple of offensive plays, Dart was cleared of a concussion and returned to the game.
However, the speed of his return — and the visible frustration of head coach Brian Daboll and other personnel approaching the medical tent — led the NFL and the NFLPA to immediately launch a joint review into whether the Giants followed the mandated protocol procedures correctly.
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NFL-Giants concussion protocol investigation
The NFL, in conjunction with the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), initiated a joint review into the application of the Concussion Protocol involving Dart.
The formal review was launched due to visible actions on the sideline that raised concerns about potential interference with the medical evaluation process, which is mandated to be independent of coaching staff.
Brian Daboll was caught on camera approaching the sideline medical tent while Dart was being evaluated and was observed appearing impatient and yelling questions at medical personnel about the duration of the review. Daboll later acknowledged the error and apologized, stating he was "in the wrong" for the intrusion.
Rookie running back Cam Skattebo was also seen briefly entering the medical tent to check on his quarterback, violating the protocol that specifies only the player, the team physician, and the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant (UNC) are allowed inside during a concussion evaluation.
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NFL concussion rules
If a player shows symptoms of a concussion, the protocol will be initiated by the person who spotted them. The player is taken to the sideline and examined for a concussion. They will be evaluated for any so-called "no-go" symptoms — loss of consciousness, gross motor instability, confusion, amnesia, fencing response, impact seizure — history of concussions, any other symptoms or a focused neurological exam.
The full rundown on the rules can be found here.
Category: Football
