Concussions Becoming Big Problem; Jackson Feels "Ok"

We’ve heard about concussions quite a lot lately around the NFL and within the Eagles’ organization. Back in Week 7, RB Brian Westbrook took a knee to the head and has been sidelined since, and a shocking number of others have sustained concussions as of late–including Redskins’ RB Clinton Portis, Steelers’ QB Ben Roethlisbeger, Arizona QB Kurt Warner, and most recently, the Eagles’ dangerous weapon at the WR position, DeSean Jackson (pictured, #10).

With the league searching for answers to keep players safe for the sake of their current and long-term health, it is unclear what the rumored new policies will make of the large amount of concussed. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and his staff are supposedly working on establishing a plan that requires victims of a head injury or concussion to sit out for the remainder of the game in which they sustained the injury, and possibly the next week as well, depending on the severity of the player’s pain.

As for the Eagles, Westbrook is still recovering and is set to re-visit doctors in Pittsburgh, PA later in the week to undergo further evaluation. It isn’t expected he’ll be out on the field anytime soon, but with good test results and some positive feedback from the veteran runner, the explosive back might be able to play at least a minimal role in the final regular season game or so. In regards to Jackson–who leads the team with 769 receiving yards and 6 catching touchdowns–the 2nd-year wideout is reportedly feeling “okay”, and head coach Andy Reid said this about the young player in a recent press conference: “He doesn’t feel bad today. We are as cautious as they come with concussions. We’re going to continue to test him and go through the process.”

In other injury news, TE Brent Celek is tending to a mild thumb sprain, DT Brodrick Bunkley is listed as “day-to-day” with a right ankle sprain, and OG Todd Herremans is dealing with pain in his Acromioclavicular (AC) shoulder joint.

(picture source)