NFLPA reviewing how Chargers handled Jahleel Addae's concussion
Jahleel Addae was diagnosed with a concussion on Friday, after the Chargers' Thursday night loss to Denver during which Addae absorbed two big hits.
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The NFLPA is formally reviewing the handling of Chargers safety Jahleel Addae's concussion, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
Addae returned to play Thursday night after absorbing two significant hits to the head and neck area in a loss to the Broncos. After the second hit he seemed dazed and disoriented. He was not diagnosed with a concussion until Friday, prompting a formal review by the NFLPA and its medical team, and possibly further changes to the league's sideline concussion protocol as well.
There is a process in place for instances like this, of a potential misdiagnosed concussion, are eligible for further review by the appropriate league and NFLPA advisers. The union has begun that process on its side, sources said. The NFL is offering no comment on the Addae situation, referring all questions about it to the Chargers and declining to comment on a ProFootballTalk.com report that the league is reassessing its concussion policies in the wake of recent events of concussed players returning to play in games.
However, one league source said the NFL is not pleased with these recent events and will work to enact further measures if necessary to beef up how head injuries and monitored and diagnosed on the sidelines during games.
According to a Chargers source, the team adhered to the league's mandate on evaluating players for concussions. Addae was originally evaluated for a concussion after suffering a big hit early in the game, and at that time was found to have only a stinger in his neck and returned to play. He was evaluated again later in the game, the source said, and, following a blow to the head that left him clearly dazed and vulnerable on the field, he was given another concussion test.
At that time he was again not diagnosed with a concussion, and returned to play. After the game, team officials asked the medical personnel if Addae had suffered a concussion and were told no, and he was assessed again after the game and still was found to be asymptomatic. On Friday, however, he displayed symptoms and told the team of his discomfort and at that time was given another battery of tests, with the results sent off for review, and he was diagnosed with a concussion.
The team did not take issue with the performance of its medical team, sources said, with them believing the symptoms did not present themselves until Friday. Addae's situation, in their view, somehow eluded the spotters in the press box, the game officials and the doctors on the sidelines. Addae was placed in the league's return-to-play concussion protocol on Friday upon his diagnosis.
As of late Saturday, NFL teams had not received any communications from the league office about the handling of head injuries in games and the Chargers had not received any negative feedback or admonishment from the NFL, either, as of Saturday, about how Addae's concussion was diagnosed.
