Austin Ekeler’s first season with the Washington Commanders might be summarized as bittersweet.
Whereas he and the staff have skilled success at 8-5, Ekeler’s 2024 season has been marred by two concussions, with the second resulting in him being positioned on injured reserve.
Ekeler stated Tuesday on 106.7 The Fan that he’s nonetheless experiencing signs following his newest concussion that was sustained again on Nov. 24. He stated he would not keep in mind something ranging from when he sustained the harm up till he was within the ambulance en path to the hospital, per The Athletic. Ekeler stated that he skilled comparable reminiscence loss after sustaining his first concussion this season again in Week 3.
Along with the continued signs from his most up-to-date concussion, Ekeler can be coping with neck ache. He stated that he has not cleared concussion protocol however he’s hoping to clear that hurdle someday quickly.
In 2011, the NFL adopted the Recreation Day Concussion Analysis and Administration Protocol as a means to assist be certain that gamers recuperate from concussions earlier than returning to the sector. The NFL concussion protocol is a five-step course of that gamers should cross earlier than they’re medically cleared to play. The NFL has additionally adopted guidelines to assist cut back concussions, together with making vital modifications this previous yr to kickoffs.
In October, the NFL stated there was a 24% lower in concussions throughout the preseason in comparison with 2023. The 44 concussions throughout the preseason was considerably fewer than the 91 concussions that have been sustained throughout the 2017 preseason.
Regardless of the league’s efforts, concussions proceed to be a part of the NFL. For Ekeler, he can be eligible to return from IR in Week 18 when the Commanders host the Cowboys of their common season finale.
