According to a report today from Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, during Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions right tackle LaAdrian Waddle suffered a concussion and was then subsequently allowed to re-enter the game for the next snap.
Waddle reportedly suffered the concussion when he "banged his head on the turf on the Detroit Lions' game-winning extra point," writes Birkett.
He was then allowed to return to the field for the team - and the game's - final snap; a kneeldown by quarterback Matthew Stafford.
While the final snap was only a kneeldown and didn't require Waddle to do anything more than lineup in correct formation, his re-entry onto the field was a violation of the NFL concussion protocol.
"We knew exactly when it occurred and what happened within the context of it," Caldwell told Birkett. "It was the last play of the game for him. It was actually on a field goal, the PAT at the end. It's the last play of the game for him."
Both Lions coach Jim Caldwell and general manager Martin Mayhew insisted that the team follows the league's protocol for head injuries "to the letter."
In light of the fact that Waddle's return to the field post-head injury already marks the second time this season that a Lions player has re-entered the field of play after suffering a concussion - running back Joique Bell finished out a series in a game against the New York Jets last month despite a head injury - this incident seems even more troubling.
"Well, in terms of they knew exactly what happened to him in terms of he banged his head on the ground after where he gets up," Caldwell said. "It wasn't to the point where they thought he was concussed at that time. The final snap of the game, we knew it was only one snap, then the doctors reviewed him, took a look at him, it wasn't one of those situations where he felt he had to go in the locker room right away. But they did know he banged it when he came off, and that he was good."
Caldwell was adamant that his training staff did not err in allowing Waddle back onto the field.
"Absolutely not. Absolutely not," Caldwell said.
"I think we do a great job," he told Birkett, when asked how he thinks the training staff does diagnosing concussions. "I think the communication has to be open and clear and then our guys do a great job of evaluating. They take a look at it and I think, without question, it's done the proper way."
Waddle has not taken part in practice this week ahead of Detroit's game against the Atlanta Falcons in London.
