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The NFL's concussion protocol is supposed to apply to every player, but apparently, Texans running back Arian Foster thought he was exempt from it on Thursday night.

With just under five minutes left in the first half against Indianapolis, Foster took a hit from Colts linebackers D'Qwell Jackson and was slow to get up.

After the play, Foster appeared a bit woozy and he headed to the sideline so that he could be examined by the Texans' trainers and the NFL's independent neurologist.

That's when a funny thing happened: Foster decided he didn't want to be examined.

As CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson explained during the broadcast, "Arian Foster basically put himself back into the game. As soon as the trainers were talking about it, he turned around and he just walked about out there."

Basically, Foster ignored anyone's attempt to examine him for a concussion.

Foster sat out one play, but was back on the field for the rest of Houston's drive, which consisted of two more plays.

After a Houston punt, Foster returned to the sideline. At that point, the Texans trainers took his helmet so he couldn't return to the game. When Foster found out his helmet was missing, he was not a happy camper.

Foster ended up being examined for a concussion at halftime and was eventually cleared to return to the game. The incident does raise a few questions though about what the NFL can do to keep players off the field until they've been cleared. The obvious answer seems to be, stop the game.

The Texans would've probably liked to stop the game on Thursday because losing 27-20 to a 40-year-old quarterback who was in the ER two days before the game is kind of embarrassing.

Arian Foster didn't exactly follow the NFL's concussion protocol on Thursday. (USATSI)
Arian Foster didn't exactly follow the NFL's concussion protocol on Thursday. (USATSI)