The Buffalo Bills are under scrutiny after they allowed quarterback Josh Allen to return to Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans, despite him appearing to suffer a head injury. The team used smelling salts to help him re-enter the game.
Allen was injured in the fourth quarter of the 23-20 loss on October 6, taking a hard hit after releasing the ball and hitting his head on the turf. He was briefly evaluated on the sidelines and went into the medical tent, but he returned to play later in the quarter and stayed in until the game concluded.
The Bills are facing increasing criticism for this decision, especially given the recent high-profile head injuries to other quarterbacks.
Bills Criticized for Rushing Josh Allen Back Into the Game
Allen’s injury initially appeared serious, with the quarterback ending up face-down on the turf and remaining motionless for a few moments before the team’s medical staff came onto the field to evaluate him. Allen was able to sit up shortly afterward and walked to the sidelines under his own power, initially sitting on the bench before being taken to the medical evaluation tent.
Though backup Mitch Trubisky came in for the first play of the next drive after the Bills forced a turnover, Allen came back in immediately afterward. Before he entered, the CBS broadcast showed a member of the team’s staff administering smelling salts, a mixture of ammonia and other chemicals used to revive patients after injuries or losing consciousness.
Former NFL player and commentator Emmanuel Acho criticized the Bills for their decision regarding Josh Allen. He remarked, “We all saw Josh Allen seemingly get knocked out, yet they just threw him a smelling salt and sent him right back into the game, as if that would undo any head trauma he just suffered,” in a post on X.
Others also voiced concerns about the NFL’s concussion protocol, which includes an initial evaluation by an independent doctor to assess a player’s fitness to return. Former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel commented, “If they let Josh Allen back into the game after he clearly smashed his head on the turf, then the entire concussion process is flawed. He looked like he was out,” in another post on X.
The league has faced criticism in the past, particularly after Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa experienced two diagnosed concussions during the 2022 season, with many believing he suffered another concussion in a game against the Bills that was labeled a back injury.
Josh Allen in the Clear
Despite the backlash, it seems that Josh Allen did not actually suffer a head injury and is unlikely to miss time in the upcoming week. After the game, Allen informed reporters that he took a “big shot to the chest” and rolled his ankle. Head coach Sean McDermott confirmed on Monday that Allen is doing fine.
“Sean McDermott has reiterated that Josh Allen was medically cleared to return yesterday,” reported Alaina Getzenberg on X, adding that he is “not in concussion protocol today.”
