Deshaun Watson Suffers Head Injury, Down On NFL Field For Several Minutes
By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on October 22, 2023 at 2:01 PM EDT
NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson may have suffered a severe head injury after a play during the Cleveland Browns vs the Indianapolis Colts.
The 28-year-old remained down on the field for several minutes after he got shoved to the ground hard by a defender, resulting in his head slamming into the turf -- hard.
Deshaun Watson Down On Field Following Head Injury
The NFL quarterback slammed his head into the ground as he was brought down by a Colts defender. The medical staff immediately came out to the field to check on Watson.
Watson's head was seen bobbling after he hit his head, indicating he may have blacked out, though that has not been confirmed.
https://twitter.com/_MLFootball/status/1716148544770363748
After several minutes down on the field, he walked to the sideline with the assistance of Browns staff members. There is no word on if he will return to the game, but the medical staff is evaluating him.
The former Houston Texans and current Cleveland Browns quarterback is struggling in his first season back after he was suspended for 11 games last NFL season after facing over 20 sexual misconduct lawsuits.
The NFL Players Association reviewed the league’s concussion protocol last year following the Dolphins quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa’s quick return to a game after he suffered a head injury. The NFLPA deemed the UNC made “several mistakes” during the concussion protocol process. One of those mistakes included not examining Tagovailoa’s back during the initial concussion examination.
On October 1, the NFL and NFLPA agreed on an amended concussion protocol. Now, any player who displays ataxia, which is defined as “abnormality of balance/stability, motor coordination or dysfunctional speech caused by a neurological issue,” must be removed from a game and is not allowed to return.
Fans Say Deshaun Watson's Punishment Was Not Enough
Deshaun Watson, despite the many sexual assault allegations against him, was eligible to return to play in the NFL last week with the Cleveland Browns against his former Houston Texans team. The 27-year-old quarterback was also fined $5 million and must undergo a mandatory treatment program prior to his return.
Fans of the NFL and many others claim the suspension is not enough — including attorney Tony Buzbee, who is representing more than 20 of the women with allegations against Watson.
“By settling this matter the way he has, Roger Goodell has proven one of two things: either his recent rhetoric was utter baloney, or his bark is much worse than his bite,” Buzbee said in a statement.
“My belief is that he is nothing more than a paper tiger. The message today to all victims is clear, if you believe you have been sexually assaulted by a powerful person, keep your mouth shut and go away," he said, adding," The NFL has certainly demonstrated that its ownership and the organization doesn’t care. To all sexual assault survivors, do not allow this recent ‘punishment’ to deter you. Keep speaking up and keep speaking out. Your voice matters. You are making a difference. We stand with you.”
