BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 10: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams takes the field prior to the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 10, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Chris Long accuse Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford of deliberately avoiding NFL Concussion Protocol in loss against Lions
During the recent episode of his “Green Light with Chris Long” podcast, two-time Super Bowl champion Chris Long implied that Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford intentionally avoided entering the NFL’s concussion protocol in Sunday’s wild-card playoff loss against the Detroit Lions. Long said Matthew employed a strategy used by former New England Patriots players Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman, where players would signal an injury by holding their arm or knee when they were “dinged.” According to Long, Stafford executed a similar plan by coming off the field holding his arm. Long questioned whether someone could be concussed if they were capable of implementing such a strategy.
Although Stafford appeared to suffer a head injury when his helmet hit the turf in the third quarter, he insisted after the 24-23 defeat that he only took a shot to the ribs and head but felt “fine.” Reports suggested that Stafford displayed signs consistent with a concussion, but a Rams spokesperson confirmed he was evaluated for a concussion and cleared to return. Despite the evaluation, Stafford completed 25-of-36 passes for 367 yards and two touchdowns.
While Stafford’s time on the field was marked by evaluations for head injuries in the fall of 2022, leading to a premature end to that season due to a spinal cord contusion, his wife Kelly Stafford confirmed that he will return to the Rams for at least one more season following the recent loss.
