Same question (basically) (Photo courtesy of Lake Bluff Alliance for Excellence).
Yes, you are smarter than a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers medical state. The answer is a hands-down, standing ovation of a yes.
In the most egregious violation of the concussion protocol since Tua had a “back problem,” the Pittsburgh Steelers failed to protect TJ Watt. They need to educate themselves and hold people accountable to make sure this doesn’t happen again.
That goes for all the independent spotters, the independent neurological consultant, and the entire coaching and medical staff on the Steelers’ sidelines too.
If you want to watch 1970s football when things were “tougher,” then watch highlights; we don’t need to see it in 2023. Just look at the longevity of the 1970s Steelers. Terry Bradshaw is one of the few who’s still alive and is likely the healthiest. Take from that what you will. To read about how Bradshaw is a medical marvel, read my article here.
What Happened to TJ Watt?
In the first quarter, TJ Watt took a knee to the face from Ezekiel Elliot. The force may have been directed towards Watt’s jaw and chin, but it was great enough to rattle his brain too. It was visibly apparent to most of us that he likely had his bell rung.
Watt was brought to the tent further on in the first quarter (not even after the hit), but only to look at his jaw and wipe the blood off. He did not receive a concussion evaluation, according to sources. Even if they did test his noggin, there were concerning symptoms throughout the game that should have had him (re-)evaluated.
Symptoms sometimes do not present themselves immediately. But it’s plain medical negligence, in my opinion, to ignore a player who got a knee to the head and showed obvious signs of symptoms throughout the game.
The First Obvious Sign of Symptoms The Pittsburgh Steelers Missed
I almost couldn’t believe it when I saw TJ Watt huffing and smelling salts like an addict. We discussed players using smelling salts in the past (in my article, here), but you don’t see it all that often anymore.
A common symptom of a concussion is being woozy and disoriented. If you see someone get a knee to the head and all of a sudden they’re looking a little dazed, that’s a concern. Seeing them huffing and smelling salts? A bright red flag in a sea of red.
In the history of smelling salts in the NFL, they have almost exclusively been used to cover the signs of a concussion. We all know that, even if we’ve never thought that hard about it. Athletes don’t often need a “boost” of energy or clarity for any other reason.
That was the Pittsburgh Steelers first sign that they ignored. But wait, there’s more!
The Second Sign of symptoms
The visor was a big sign. Light sensitivity is a common sign of a concussion. If a player who took a knee to the head and was huffing and smelling salts suddenly wears a visor, that’s a neon red sign.
We know that TJ Watt typically wears a visor during pre-game warm-ups, but never during the game. That’s not necessarily indicative of a concussion, but definitely something to address with the player.
And the team already knows that you can’t rely on self-reports from players alone. The competitive nature of a player like TJ Watt would have him on the field with injuries that are far worse. Staff has to protect a player even when they don’t want to protect themselves. It’s literally their job.
The Evidence That Showed The Pittsburgh Steelers Messed It Up
We have some evidence that supports the claim that the Pittsburgh Steelers blatantly ignored the signs of a concussion.
Firstly, TJ Watt skipped the post-game podium interview that he was scheduled to do. He allegedly had a migraine. It probably would be of little surprise that a common symptom of a concussion is a headache. Continuing to play through the symptoms associated with a concussion could absolutely cause a severe headache.
To put the cherry on top, TJ Watt entered concussion protocol today. It’s not abnormal for the symptoms of a concussion to be delayed. But it’s probably not as normal to have a player who got a knee to the head, was huffing and smelling salts, and was wearing a visor he never puts on during games do it. I’m glad he entered it at all, but it’s far too late, with way too many signs.
A Sobering Thought
We have an epidemic of men, young and old, who are developing degenerative brain diseases sooner and more rapidly than the average population. There are 30-year-olds who are dead with confirmed cases of CTE. We have to take safety seriously, even when it’s inconvenient.
It is my opinion that the Pittsburgh Steelers’ knew they needed TJ Watt to have a shot at winning against the New England Patriots. As a result, they prioritized the needs of the team over the longevity of Watt’s body and mind.
They appeared to ignore the blatantly obvious signs that he was concussed in the name of winning. It’s unconscionable for the Pittsburgh Steelers to do this with all the medical information we have on concussions and the danger of playing through them.
