Don't rush, DeSean
Why Jackson's return from a concussion could take a while.
Don't rush, DeSean
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
DeSean Jackson, 9 days removed from the concussion he suffered in a horrific collision with the Falcons' Dunta Robinson, was on Comcast SportsNet's "Daily News Live" on Tuesday afternoon. It was the first interview he had done, post-concussion. In the middle of the interview, it dawned on me that Jackson had not yet been asked if he'd been knocked out on the field. Well, he said he was.
That changes things. For everyone who seems so certain that Jackson will be returning to the field for the Eagles' next game against Indianapolis (following this Sunday's bye week), I say maybe. I say maybe at best.
Much was made on Monday night of coach Andy Reid saying that Jackson had passed a concussion test. Well, after probing Jackson a little bit on DNL, it sounds as if he passed the very preliminary baseline test that is just the beginning of the stringent protocol for returning that Eagles head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder has devised. And it took 8 days for Jackson to pass that test. By comparison, after their recent concussions, quarterback Kevin Kolb and linebacker Stewart Bradley both passed much more quickly, in a day or 2.
Jackson was asked if he had yet been on a treadmill during the DNL interview. He said he had not, that he had just done some weight lifting so far and that he was taking it slowly because there is so much time before the next game. And that's all fine. But after passing that baseline test, there are five stages of activity tests that the player must pass, symptom-free, under Burkholder's protocol. Getting on the treadmill is the second step. This suggests Jackson is only at the start of the process.
From a column this summer in which I interviewed Burkholder:
The first phase involves easy exercise in a quiet room, with no impact. So the player rides a bicycle slowly, raising his heart level to only 30 or 40 percent of its maximum. Then he sits on a table and does leg lifts and some stretching. If he can do that and remain symptom-free for 24 hours, the player moves to the next phase. The 24 hours is required at the end of each step. If a symptom pops up, he repeats the previous step.
That hit was brutal. I don't know, mebbe the best thing to do is shelf him for the season, hate to say. Another pop anytime soon and he's Westbrook.— hallux- Rich, I couldn't agree more. It's one thing to play through a soft tissue injury that you can't injure more. This is something that has unquantified, but documented lifelong effects. Hallux, I agree 100% with what you're saying. If this was as bad as it looked- and thanks to Rich's questioning, apparently it was- then I have no problem with Desean taking the rest of the year off. Honestly, if he retired tomorrow, I could understand the decision.— maximusud
Reids solution: give him a cheesesteak and send him back in immediately.- This is a good lesson for the Eagles, don't send he skinny guy across the middle on short routes.— Ken B
- If ever there was a pass that should have been thrown into the ground.— Dexter
- Or don't hang the skinny guy out to get rocked when a CB is sitting right there...— EaglesBleedMoney
- No reason to rush him back - the Eagles are going nowhere. Best thing is to lose every game and draft a big DT. No more of the shrimps AR likes.— 4thand10
- Ken b...yep sending a skinng guy across the middle dosen't work. That's why welker has been such a failure in New England. What dosen't work is having your QB hang a guy out to dry.— oldeaglesfan
Comment removed.- Rich doesn't even know AP style... spell out "two."— pmoehrle5
- jet3to - let me applaud you in trying to label football players as soft, but instead make yourself sound like an abosulte idiot. Exhibit A - ice hockey players are tougher? What exactly is your basis for this statement? Last time I checked hockey players are covered from head to toe in pads, yes even shoulder pads. I am pretty sure Syndey Crosby would struggle to run a slant with Brian Dawkins coming right at him. Exhibit B - did you really reference A.I? I believe he plays basketball, not football. That was just a stupid comment. Exhibit C - See Exhibit A, hockey players wear shoulder pads as well moron. Exhibit D - Rugby is 100 times different than football. Rugby players don't spread out and throw the ball, they bunch up and run taking out any high speed collisions. Like comparing apples to oranges. Learn some things before you try and rip football players fool.— EaglesBleedMoney
- @ pmoehrle5
It's disgraceful, isn't it? I'm scarred for life. How about you?— thejimmylegs - Horrific-->>SPEARING, ASSAULT WITH INTENT TO INJURE<<---where's your sense, Rich. Did you ever get hit like that? DeSean willl never be the same. Better check yourself sometime.— ItalianSausage
- Hey Rich, please stop with the drama. And Sausage, "Desean will never be the same?" Really? Reading between the lines, I think he's fine right now, if anything, his shoulder is hurting him. Desean has been wary of big hits since getting plastered his junior year against USC. He actually plays a timid, defensive style of football which is why it was so odd seeing him get blind-sided that way. Anyway, he's not Westbrook who is expected to run the ball between the tackles 15-20 times per game. He just needs to play the way he normally does and chances are he won't ever get squared up like that again. It was a freak occurrence and thank God, not even a helmet to helmet hit. Desean has to understand that it's not in his interest to say to a town crier like Mr. Hoffman that he was "out on the field." Evidently, it will only lead to dire projections, hand-wringing, and epic fulminations about the hazards of professional football. After all, these kinds of articles allow Rich to believe that he's making a difference and not just opining about professional recreation. So strap it on and go play, you've got a few more of these before you need to worry.— auntesther
- DeSean Jackson was irresponsible and foolish for stepping on the field once this year without at least an $8 million check in the bank from the Eagles and the Eagles are completely classless for making him risk his livelihood without compensating him fairly. There is no cap, nothing but their own immorality, to stop them from cutting him an $8 million check for this season tomorrow. He should use the concussion to sit out until he has a new deal.— jtj06
