For the second time this year, we're writing about an Aaron Rodgers concussion. The Green Bay Packers QB left today's game against the Detroit Lions in the second quarter two months after suffering a concussion against the Dolphins in week six. He played the week after that headshot, and will likely try to do the same next week against the New England Patriots.
Aaron Rodgers Concussion: Why Isn’t There An NFL Rule On Multiple Concussions In A Season?
The NFL’s new rule on players returning to action after sustaining a concussion requires each to undergo multiple independent medical examinations. This protects from second-impact syndrome, basically a brain injury suffered while suffering a brain injury. The rule:
Once removed for the duration of a practice or game, the player should not be considered for return-to-football activities until he is fully asymptotic, both at rest and after exertion, has a normal neurological examination, normal neuropsychological testing, and has been cleared to return by both his team physician(s) and the independent neurological consultant.
But what about subsequent concussions suffered in the same season? Wouldn’t you think there’d be some kind of multiplier? Sure, Rodgers will be examined again, but for PR reasons alone the NFL should mandate a week off for a second concussion. If anything like that is on the books, we haven’t been able to find it -- and if it were on the books, the NFL would’ve publicized it like it has all its other concussion efforts.
Concussions are bad, and a long-term embarrassment for a league trying to extend its season by two games. But once we start talking about multiple concussions accumulated by the same player, we’re talking about potential Alzheimer’s, dementia, reduced cognitive abilities, and depression.
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