When can Drake Maye return? How NFL’s concussion protocol works originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The New England Patriots could be without their prized rookie quarterback Drake Maye for the foreseeable future.
Maye exited Sunday’s game vs. the New York Jets after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit in the second quarter. He was evaluated in the blue medical tent before heading to the locker room and being ruled out for the remainder of the game with a head injury.
Veteran QB Jacoby Brissett replaced Maye and will likely regain his role as the starter if the third-overall draft pick misses time. Maye presumably will need to clear the NFL’s concussion protocol before returning to the field.
So, what does concussion protocol entail? And when can we expect Maye to be cleared? Here’s how the process works:
Sideline evaluation
When a player is hit in the head and the protocol begins, the team physician and UNC (unaffiliated neurotrauma consultants) evaluate the player on the sideline by checking their cervical spine, speech, gait, and eyes. If the sideline survey reveals symptoms consistent with a concussion, the player is examined further in the locker room for more neurological symptoms.
If the player is diagnosed with a concussion, he is ineligible to return to play in another game until passing the return-to-participation protocol. This is what happened with Maye during Sunday’s game.
Five-step process
Players must advance through the following five phases before they can be medically cleared to play:
Symptom limited activity
Players are asked to rest and limit any activities that could aggravate their symptoms. The phase may include limited stretching and balance activities at the discretion of the team’s medical staff.
Aerobic exercise
Players may begin cardio exercises along with stretching and balance activities with team medical staff supervising. Once the player has demonstrated his ability to engage in cardio exercise without aggravating his symptoms, he can advance…
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