BATTERING RAM: The 49ers’ Alex Smith grimaces after a head-rattling blow from the Rams’ Jo-Lonn Dunbar that made Smith one of three QBs — along with Michael Vick and Jay Cutler — knocked out of Week 10 games with concussions. (
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This past Sunday was a dangerous day to be an NFC quarterback, and fallout is likely to be felt for weeks — and perhaps months — to come.
The Eagles’ Michael Vick, the Bears’ Jay Cutler and the 49ers’ Alex Smith all were forced out of Week 10 games with concussions in a span of five hours, an eye-opening development that could change the playoff landscape at the same time it was shining a spotlight yet again on a rapidly growing medical issue for the league.
Already facing a barrage of concussion lawsuits from more than 2,000 former players, the NFL’s case certainly wasn’t helped by Sunday’s carnage, which wasn’t just limited to prominent quarterbacks. According to one count, 12 players around the league departed with concussions during Week 10 action.
Then, last night, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger missed most of the second half — and could be out for a significant time — with a right shoulder injury.
Early in the third quarter of the Steelers’ 16-13 overtime victory over the Chiefs, Roethlisberger was slammed to the turf by Kansas City’s Tamba Hali and Justin Houston. He left the game and coach Mike Tomlin said he was taken to the hospital for tests.
ESPN’s Rick Reilly tweeted that Roethlisberg’s agent, Ryan Tollner, said the injury was “non-traditional” and “unique.”
Much of the attention yesterday centered on Vick’s condition after Eagles coach Andy Reid described his quarterback’s concussion, suffered during a 38-23 home loss to the Cowboys, as “pretty significant.”
A league source said last night Vick might miss the rest of the season because of this latest injury, and Philadelphia already is planning to start rookie Nick Foles in Week 11 against the Redskins.
The Bears and the league, meanwhile, are under scrutiny after Cutler took a devastating (and extremely dirty) blow to the helmet from Texans linebacker Tim Dobbins on a scramble late in the second quarter of Sunday night’s 13-6 home loss.
Despite the extreme nature of the hit, Cutler never came off the field for a concussion test and even was allowed to play seven more snaps over two series before the team claimed he showed concussion symptoms during halftime and replaced him with Jason Campbell.
Bears coach Lovie Smith insisted yesterday Cutler was checked by trainers during the replay review that resulted from him stepping over the line of scrimmage just before the Dobbins hit and didn’t show signs of a concussion.
Smith also said Cutler was feeling better yesterday and hopes to play Monday against the 49ers. All concussed players now must be cleared by an independent neurologist late in the week before being allowed to play again.
“We’ll never put a guy at risk,” Smith said. “No game is that important for us. The players’ health always comes first.”
The NFL agreed, announcing yesterday that the Bears had “properly handled” Cutler’s concussion and followed the league’s concussion protocol, even though the quarterback never appeared to leave the field for an extensive test after the Dobbins hit.
Chicago’s matchup with San Francisco this week could feature two backups under center after Alex Smith was concussed early in the 49ers’ 24-24 tie at home with the Rams and gave way to Colin Kaepernick.
Like the Bears, the Niners are facing questions about their handling of Smith, who was allowed to stay in for six plays after a pair of huge hits, including a shot to the back of his head from St. Louis linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar.
“Our doctors were very proactive after that [Dunbar] hit,” coach Jim Harbaugh said yesterday.
Harbaugh added that Smith was feeling better, and said San Francisco is optimistic he can face the Bears.
But as with every player in this new NFL age of concussion emphasis, that decision is no longer in the team’s hands.