The Houston Texans have avoided discipline for how the team handled quarterback Tom Savage's concussion in Week 14 against the San Francisco 49ers, the league announced Friday.
Upon review from the league and the NFL Players Association, both sides determined that while the Texans' medical staff properly followed the concussion protocol, the aftermath was deemed "unacceptable" and that "further improvements in the protocol are necessary."
There is nothing to see here....Savage has what appears to be a seizure or reaction to a hit returns to game 5 minutes later. Can’t make it up #NFL pic.twitter.com/ONwvvVZM2M
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) December 10, 2017
"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 on 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."
Savage was met by a devastating hit from 49ers linebacker Elvis Dumervil that left him shaking on the ground. He proceeded to the medical tent but was quickly cleared and returned to the game without missing a play.
The quarterback was evaluated once again at halftime and was deemed unfit to continue. Savage has since been placed on IR.
Texans head coach Bill O'Brien initially defended the medical staff's decision but later admitted he wouldn't have let Savage return had he seen the quarterback's reaction, saying, "With the benefit of the video, I never would have allowed the player back in the game and I don't think (trainer) Geoff Kaplan would have let Tom back in the game."
