Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards made an apparently remarkable recovery from a severe concussion he suffered two weeks ago after being driven to the ground at the end of a pass play against the Arizona Cardinals. Following the hit, Edwards appeared to be unconscious momentarily after the back of his helmet bounced hard on the turf.
Fourteen days later, however, Edwards seemed to be none the worse for wear as he managed to lead the Bills to a 23-14 win against the San Diego Chargers, completing 25 of 30 passes and a touchdown.
After being hit in the Arizona game’s third play, Edwards lay on the field for several minutes before being helped up and assisted off the field by trainers. It was reported that he had no memory of events for about 15 minutes following the blow, and suffered a headache for several days. Loss of consciousness, loss of memory, and headache are clear signs of a concussion, if not something worse.
NFL rules require any player experiencing a concussion not be allowed to return to play the same day. Further, the player must have no continuing concussion symptoms and exhibit normal neurological and mental test results at rest and after exertion before returning at all. Otherwise, the situation is left up to the team and its physicians.
The NFL guidelines contrast with National Hockey League rules requiring a player with a concussion not practice or play for seven days. According to the concussion management guidelines of the American Academy of Neurosurgeons (AAN), a player suffering a concussion resulting in a loss of consciousness should not be allowed to play for at least one or two weeks, and then only if mental function is completely normal.
Though their concussion protocol was not detailed, the Buffalo Bills kept Edwards from practicing until the eighth day following his injury, which seems to adhere more closely to the AAN guidelines. It also seems a wise policy given the results against the Chargers on Edwards’ return to competition.