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Josh Allen was evaluated for a concussion and was cleared to play against the Texans


Josh Allen was evaluated for a concussion and was cleared to play against the Texans

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Josh Allen didn't have his best day in the Buffalo Bills' 23-20 loss in Week 5 to the Houston Texans, but many questioned whether he should play at all in the end.

Allen appeared to suffer a head injury in the fourth quarter after being removed from the game following an incompletion in the third and eighth quarters. His head hit the turf hard and he lay there before receiving medical attention on the field.

Allen was eventually able to leave the field under his own power and eventually returned to the field. However, many questioned the NFL's concussion protocol when the 28-year-old took over as the Bills' coach five games after his injury.

Here's what happened to Allen and what he said about it after the game.

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What happened to Josh Allen?

Allen suffered an injury in the fourth quarter of the Bills vs. Texans game in Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season. His head hit the ground when he was tackled on a third-down pass, and he appeared to be in pain after the play.

Allen was visited on the field by the Bills' medical staff before walking to the sideline under his own power. He went straight to the blue medical tent for further examination.

Allen announced during a postgame press conference that he was checked for multiple injuries in the tent. This also included a possible head injury.

“(I took a big shot to the chest and twisted my ankle there,” Allen explained. “They reported me for hitting my head, but they felt good enough to get back in the game.”

Due to his injury, Allen only missed one snap. Backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky came onto the field after the Bills recovered a fumble by CJ Stroud and handed the ball off to running back James Cook.

Allen played five snaps after returning to the game. He failed on five pass attempts but appeared no worse for wear due to his injuries.

What is the NFL concussion protocol?

Of course, Allen's quick return to play caused many fans to question the way the league's concussion protocol was handled.

What does the league's concussion protocol include? According to the NFL, a player is placed in concussion protocol if:

  • The player shows or reports symptoms or signs suggestive of a concussion or a puncture injury (a nerve pinch injury).
  • The team athletic trainer, the ATC spotter in the booth, the team doctor, the NFL game official, the coach, the teammate, the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant (UNC), or the UNC in the booth initiate the protocol.

It's not clear which party originated Allen's check. However, according to his report, he was evaluated for a concussion and released.

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