With what is known now about concussions, any team that lets a player back into a game after a big hit is going to get some scrutiny.
The Denver Broncos are covering their tails after receiver Wes Welker returned to Sunday night’s game against the Chiefs and then was diagnosed later with a concussion. The team appears to have a decent excuse: When Welker first came out, he was not showing concussions symptoms, and he instead was evaluated for a neck injury, according to the Denver Post.
When Welker later showed signs of a head injury, he was pulled from the game and not allowed to return, according the report.
While the team says the medical staff did not see concussion symptoms at first, the Broncos could still take some heat since the type of hit on Welker — a high-low collision from two defenders — would seem to have put him in danger for a head injury, whether symptoms were immediately visible or not.
The team has not offered any updates on Welker’s recovery, putting into question whether he will play in this Sunday’s showdown against the Patriots.
