The Texans will not be disciplined for the way they handled quarterback
Tom Savage's concussion symptoms during their Week 14 loss to the San
Francisco 49ers.
Savage suffered the concussion in the second quarter, when he took a
hit on third down that left him on the ground with his hands twitching.
He was allowed to re-enter the game after being checked out in the
sideline medical tent, but one series later he was taken to the locker
room and ruled out for the rest
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of the game.
The NFL has made big changes to its concussion protocol, including
adding more independent neurologists and the immediate removal of
players who show impact seizure symptoms during a game.
Texans coach Bill O'Brien said Savage was checked immediately after he
took the hit and was cleared by the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant
to return to the field. After the following series, Savage was tested
again and failed the concussion test.
The NFL and NFL Players Association, in a joint statement to confirm
new changes to the concussion protocol, acknowledged that the outcome
allowing Savage to return to the field was "unacceptable."
In the joint statement, the NFL and NFLPA said the medical staff saw
the "initial broadcast video" but not the slow-motion replay that made
clear
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Savage's fencing posture and the twitching of his hands.
On Friday, O'Brien said he believed the team handled the situation
correctly.
"I think, just speaking for us here at the Texans, it's always about
trying to do the right thing, doing the right thing by the player, doing
the right thing by the
Custom New England Patriots Jersey rules," O'Brien said. "That's what we try to do."
The Texans
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put Savage on injured reserve before their Week 16 game. He never
practiced following the concussion.
On Dec. 21, the league announced that the Seattle Seahawks were been
fined $100,000 for not properly following concussion protocol with
quarterback Russell Wilson during a game in November against the Arizona
Cardinals. Seattle was the first team fined for that violation.