What happens next with the concussion protocol? – The Athletic

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The Kansas City Chiefs reached their third straight AFC championship game after a 22-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns. But the big question now is whether Patrick Mahomes will be cleared into Sunday’s AFC Championship game against Buffalo.

There is no easy answer, as there is no set timeline for players to come back from a concussion. It’s possible for Mahomes to go through the concussion protocol in a week; it is also possible that his symptoms will persist for a longer time and be ruled out.

According to NFL concussion data, which is collected by health data company IQVIA, the median time of the 29 quarterbacks who sustained a concussion between 2015-2019 to complete the concussion protocol and return to the game was seven days.

But every concussion is different, and every player who suffers from a brain injury follows their own recovery schedule.

Here’s a look at NFL protocols, Mahomes’ current situation, and next steps:

What happened to Patrick Mahomes on Sunday?

Mahomes was a clear candidate for the concussion protocol from the time he was helped up after a blow in the third quarter. He looked dizzy and needed immediate help. He was first escorted to the medical tent on the Chiefs sideline, where he underwent an initial assessment by the Chiefs’ team doctor and an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant. After this brief exam, Mahomes ran to the locker room for a full concussion assessment. The team announced shortly after that he was being assessed for a concussion, and early in the fourth trimester, he was ruled out.

This decision officially places Mahomes in the concussion protocol.

What happens next with Mahomes in the concussion protocol?

Mahomes will have another concussion assessment on Monday, standard protocol for any player who suffers a head injury during a game, and will begin a five-step process to be cleared to return to play.

There isn’t a set number of days for how long this process will take, and it would be irresponsible to speculate on this timeline based on things like how quickly Mahomes ran into the locker room or the tweets that he sent after the game.

What are the next steps for Mahomes?

According to the NFL concussion protocols, first comes rest, an assessment of symptoms and light exercise. If he can handle light exercise without returning symptoms (such as a headache or sensitivity to light), he will be allowed to do aerobic exercises, such as running on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike. Then comes a return to weight training and some football exercises. It is common for a player who is still in this phase of the concussion protocol to be seen on the training ground working on the side with a strength and conditioning trainer. If the symptoms did not return, Mahomes would be allowed to resume football drills without contact with his teammates.

During these first four phases, Mahomes will undergo further neurological tests, and he will only be allowed to return to full-contact football activities once his brain function returns to baseline levels, based on his assessment. neurological preseason.

Only if the symptoms remain at bay during all of these phases will Mahomes be allowed to return, either for full participation in training or for a match.

Who decides if Mahomes can play next week against the Bills?

It won’t be Mahomes. Chiefs’ medical staff will be the first to erase Mahomes, but that decision will need to be reviewed and confirmed by an independent neurologist.

(Photo: David Eulitt / Getty Images)



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