NFL, NFLPA deliver verdict after joint review of Josh Allen’s concussion protocol after game vs Texans
Last Sunday, the Buffalo Bills dropped to 3-2 after suffering a narrow 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Josh Allen and head coach Sean McDermott received a lot of flak for attempting three straight passes on the team's final drive, which ended up allowing the Texans to steal the victory late.
However, that wasn't the most talked about moment from the contest.
Late in the fourth quarter, Allen had seemingly suffered a severe head injury after being tackled from behind and hitting the turf headfirst. The quarterback stayed on the ground for a considerable amount of time before gingerly walking off the field.
He was taken into the blue medical tent to be evaluated for a concussion but was cleared quickly. Allen missed only one play before re-entering the game, which prompted questions about whether the evaluators had followed protocols properly.
On Friday, the NFL and NFLPA released a joint statement confirming there were no issues with the evaluation procedure. The statement read:
"The NFL and NFLPA have reviewed the reports from the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant and Booth Spotters and those reports confirm that the steps required by the concussion protocol were followed in the evaluation and clearance of Bills' quarterback Josh Allen in last Sunday's game."
Josh Allen injury update: Is QB fit to play in Week 6
During his media availability on Thursday, Josh Allen was asked about the controversial moment from their loss to the Texans. Explaining what transpired, the quarterback told reporters:
"I went into the tent [after the injury] and I can only control what I can control. What we talked about there [in the blue medical tent], [the doctors] deemed me clear to play and that's what happened."
There were lingering concerns about Allen's health heading into their upcoming "Monday Night Football" clash against the New York Jets. However, the two-time Pro Bowler was a full participant in practice on Thursday and Friday.
For now, he's healthy and expected to play in their critical division battle on Monday night.