The NFL and the NFLPA released a joint statement discussing Tua Tagovailoa’s status, agreeing that “modifications are necessary to enhance player safety.”
While there is still much to understand and explore in what happened to Tua Tagovailoa and whether or not there were missteps in his medical care, the NFL and NFLPA responded quickly in how they plan to deal with a future concussion protocol.
ESPN’s Field Yates shared a joint statement released by the NFL and NFLPA, confirming that the investigation into Tua Tagovailoa’s case is “ongoing.”
“Therefore, we have not reached any conclusions regarding medical errors or violations of protocol,” the statement read.
Additionally, the NFL and its players’ representatives “agree that modifications to the concussion protocol are necessary to enhance player safety.” The committees focused on player health for both organizations have already begun talks about the use of the term ‘gross motor instability’.
“We anticipate making changes to the protocol in the coming days based on what has been learned so far in the review process,” the statement read.
NFL, NFLPA Take Quick Action Addressing Concussion Protocol Issues Amid Tua Tagovailoa’s Injury Case
Considering the fact that Tagoviloa was acquitted to return in a week three match against the bills as a back injury, language regarding the “gross motor instability” clause becomes particularly relevant.
Under the “Signs and symptoms of not following up” section ofNFL protocol for brain diagnosis and managementThe NFL states:
“If a player exhibits or reports any of the following signs or symptoms of a concussion, he must be removed immediately from the field of play and taken to the locker room. If a neutral side observer or a member of the player’s club medical team notices that an offending player has received a report that the player has suffered Any of the following signs or symptoms, the player will be considered to have suffered a concussion and may not return to participation (practice or play) on the same day under any circumstances.
- Loss of consciousness (including a seizure and/or “fence”)
- Gross motor instability (GMI), determined in the judgment of the club’s medical staff in consultation with the marginal UNC, which monitors player behaviour, has access to relevant player history and can rule out orthopedic cause of any observed instability
- confusion
- memory loss”
While loss of consciousness, confusion and memory loss can be clearly identified, Gross Motor Instability can rely on the judgment of the club’s medical staff monitoring the player’s behaviour, reviewing his history and ruling out any orthopedic cause.
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