Seahawks fined $100K for mishandling Wilson’s head injury vs. Cardinals
Dec 21, 2017, 12:53 PM
FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, file photo, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) speaks with head coach Pete Carroll, right, and assistant head coach Tom Cable during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz. The Seahawks return to practice Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017, without Richard Sherman and facing questions about how the team handled the concussion protocol with quarterback Russell Wilson. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
The NFL fined the Seattle Seahawks $100,000 for violating the concussion protocol when handling injured quarterback Russell Wilson on Nov. 9 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Additionally, the league will make the coaching staff and medical staff attend a remedial training session.
In a joint statement between the NFL and NFL Players Association, an investigation concluded that Wilson was not evaluated for a concussion. During the game, referee Walt Anderson called for the quarterback to be examined.
Once it is determined that a medical examination is warranted, a player may only be cleared to return by the medical staff; Mr. Wilson’s return to the field without a sideline concussion evaluation was therefore in violation of the Concussion Protocol.
The Thursday Night Football broadcast of the game showed Wilson entering the examination tent after being sent to the sideline by Anderson and leaving it less than 20 seconds later.
Russell Wilson sent off after taking hit to the chin for concussion check, ducked in the tent then sent right back out pic.twitter.com/8HXvKOGNuG
— That Dude (@cjzer0) November 10, 2017
Seattle said in a statement that the “misstep was unintentional and the result of confusion on the sideline.”
Wilson sustained a potential head injury when Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby hit him after a throw. It appeared Dansby’s helmet hit the facemask of Wilson’s helmet.
Joint statement from NFL and NFLPA on Seahawks being fined $100,000 for violating concussion protocol with Russell Wilson: pic.twitter.com/ftla486Hvt
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 21, 2017
