NFL Won't Discipline Texans On Savage Concussion Protocol

HOUSTON — The NFL will not discipline the Houston Texans in aftermath of the team missing quarterback Tom Savage's concussion symptoms and allowing him to keep playing. Savage took a savage hit on a third down play earlier this month in a Week 14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The hit left Savage lying on the ground, twitching and shaking involuntarily. After a quick assessment in the medical tent on the sideline, Savage was cleared to reenter the game.

Texans coach Bill O'Brien said he never saw Savage on the video board at NRG Stadium, and said the team ordered another assessment after the next series, and that the second time the quarterback was removed from the game.

Having not practiced following the concussion, Savage was placed on injured reserve before Week 16.

The NFL's chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills, and NFL Players Association's medical director Dr. Thom Mayer led an investigation that was launched the day after the Texans' Dec. 10 loss to San Francisco at NRG Stadium.

In a conference call Friday morning, Dr. Sills and Dr. Mayer said they reviewed more than 560 reports on concussions, and two resulted in investigations.

A joint NFL-NFL Players Association review concluded that while medical staff followed protocol, the outcome was "unacceptable and therefore further improvements in the protocol are necessary."

"The review showed that following a hard tackle, Mr. Savage was immediately removed from the game and evaluated for a concussion," the NFL and NFLPA said in a statement issued Friday. "The Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant ("UNC") and team physician reviewed the initial broadcast video, saw the play and Mr. Savage's response and followed the Protocol by performing a complete sideline concussion evaluation on Mr. Savage, which he passed. The slow-motion video, which focused more directly on the fencing posture, was not broadcast until after the doctors had begun the sideline evaluation and thus was not seen by the medical staff prior to the evaluation. The Texans medical staff continued to monitor Mr. Savage after the initial evaluation and shortly after his return to the game, identified symptoms that had not been present during the sideline evaluation and took him to the locker room for further evaluation."

— Using a centralized, unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant at the league office to monitor feeds of all games and contact the team medical staff on the sidelines if they see anything that deserves further evaluation.

— If players show signs of a seizure or fencing responses, like Savage did, they will be removed from the game and cannot return.

— Players who stumble or fall when trying to stand will require a concussion evaluation in the locker room.

— Officials, teammates and coaches have been told to take injured players straight to the medical staff for evaluation if a concussion evaluation is warranted.

— All players who are evaluated for concussions on game day must have a follow-up evaluation the next day by a member of the medical staff.

— A third, unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant will be added to all playoff games including the Super Bowl to step in if one of the other two are away from the sideline tending to an injured player.

Last week (Dec. 21) the NFL announced the Seattle Seahawks would be fined $100,000 for not properly following concussion protocol with its quarterback, Russell Wilson, in a game against the Arizona Cardinals last month. Seattle was the first team fined for such violation.

Image: Houston Texans quarterback Tom Savage (3) is checked by a referee after he was hit during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Houston. Savage left the game. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)