The NFL is reportedly considering disciplinary action against Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams after the star defender screamed at a doctor on the sideline while he was being evaluated for a concussion. Adams was making his first start after a season-ending injury in 2022 but had to exit the game early. He is now in concussion protocol.

Adams apologized on Twitter after the incident, thanking the doctor for assisting him despite his outburst.

“First and foremost, I want to apologize to the OG. You did everything right when you realized I was concussed, I apologize for any negative energy I brought your way,” Adams said. “Watching the replay, I am thankful for your patience knowing I wasn’t myself in that moment. You’re a real one and you serve a great purpose that benefits the NFL and so many players. Prioritizing player’s health is essential. Much respect to you!”

Though Adams apologized for his actions, the league could still punish him for berating medical personnel, who he also seemed to threaten to the point that he had to be held back on the sidelines. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the league was considering serving Adams with a fine, though opponents to this measure argue that Adams was not in a sound state of mind. Some have even pointed at the NFL’s own classification of concussions, which specifically cites uncharacteristic aggression and agitation as key symptoms.

Adams last played for the Seahawks in Week 1 of the 2022 season, when he suffered a torn quad tendon that required surgery to repair. In the first quarter of his return game Monday night, he seemed to sustain the concussion while attempting to tackle Giants quarterback Daniel Jones. Adams dove at Jones’ knees and hit him headfirst. He appeared disoriented after the play and was escorted off the field. Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said that he expects Adams to recover and plans to continue using him as a key part of the team’s defense going forward.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford entered concussion protocol and may not start Week 10. Head Coach Sean McVay announced Stafford’s status Wednesday, saying that the team felt that it was a necessary precautionary measure.

“You ask the questions and you do the right follow-ups and determined that they felt like that was the best thing for (Stafford),” McVay said in a press conference. “That’s kind of where we’re at with it. It’s more importantly about the person, then the player, in these types of things as we know, and nobody is more of a competitor and wanting to be out there with his teammates than Matthew. He’s in the protocol, so we’ll take it a day at a time with him.”

McVay and a team spokesperson reported that the team was evaluating players after the team’s Week 9 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Medical personnel found that Stafford was experiencing symptoms and decided to enter him into concussion protocol mid-week. He will have to clear the protocol in a short timeframe to start against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday.

Following McVay’s announcement Wednesday, Kelly Stafford, Matthew’s wife, expressed anger and disappointment in the league. Kelly has been vocal about concussions in the NFL for some time and delivered an emotional speech on her Morning After podcast in October after Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a head injury against the Cincinatti Bengals. She expressed similar sentiments Thursday about her husband’s situation.

“If you have listened to my podcast at all, you know how big a deal it is to me,” Kelly said. “The head is not something to be messed with… and I hope as this sport develops, so does the concern for head health and the research around it.”

Kelly went on to say she was too “concerned, angry, sad, tired” to convey her personal reaction to the news of her husband’s setback.

If Matthew is unable to start against the Cardinals, Rams backup quarterback John Wolford will take over. The Rams have lost four of their last five games and are currently third in the NFC West.

The New England Patriots’ 16-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday might appear inconspicuous to most. However, most viewers seemed to take away three things.

Josh Allen is concussed

After a hit early in the fourth quarter by New England safety Jonathan Jones, Bills quarterback Josh Allen was immediately taken out of the game. Allen has since been placed in concussion protocol, according to Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott.

Following that vicious helmet-to-helmet hit, Jones was flagged for unnecessary roughness, which is grounds for ejection from the game. However, Senior Vice President of Officiating Al Riveron argued that the hit did not garner an ejection.

“We looked at it and, in this situation, we didn’t feel that that contact rose to the level of an ejection,” said Riveron. “The player actually turns. Obviously, there is helmet contact, but we have standards for an ejection, and this did not rise to that standard; therefore, we did not eject him. There was a foul called and obviously the penalty stood, but we did not feel this contact rose to that level.”

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Bills offense commits turnovers and draws penalties aplenty 

The Bills’ offense struggled Sunday against the Patriots’ defense, as it was able to move the ball but found itself consistently unable to cash in for points at the end of drives. Rather, Buffalo appeared snake-bitten by turnovers and penalties that killed many of its drives.

Allen threw for three interceptions on Sunday, not to mention various missed throws and bad decisions throughout the game. Those turnovers — coupled with multiple pre-snap penalties and the team being forced to burn timeouts in order to avoid delay-of-game flags — led to the Bills’ offense getting in their own way more than once.

Tom Brady throws his first interception of 2019

Another big story from Sunday’s game was Tom Brady’s struggles versus the Buffalo defense. The six-time Super Bowl champion finished 18-of-39 passing for 150 yards and an interception, his first of the year. That defense held the All-Pro quarterback to a passer rating of just 45.9 after he forced three-and-outs on seven of the Patriots’ last 12 drives. Though the Bills’ defense held in check an offense with a lot of firepower, it was not enough, according to cornerback Tre’Davious White:

“We don’t take pride in moral victories,” White said. “Obviously (Brady) made a few more plays than we did to stop him. He put his team in a position to win and we had to get a few more three and outs and that would’ve helped our offense out more.”

With the win, the Patriots improved their record to 4-0 on the year. Meanwhile, the Bills dropped their first game of the young season to fall to 3-1.

Joel Embiid sustained an orbital fracture that will require surgery, and he also has a concussion, the Philadelphia 76ers announced Thursday.

Joel Embiid Eye Injury, Concussion News

The surgery for the orbital fracture in his left eye — the bone around the eye socket — will be performed in the coming days, the team added.

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Embiid is reportedly expected to return in two to four weeks. The Sixers (44-30, fourth in Western Conference) have clinched a spot in the playoffs, which begin April 14.

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Late Thursday, Embiid took to Twitter to reassure fans he will try to return as soon as possible.

Embiid suffered the injuries Wednesday night after brutally colliding with teammate Markelle Fultz during the Sixers’ 118-101 victory over the New York Knicks. Embiid was initially evaluated in the locker room and later transported to Jefferson Hospital for further evaluation and testing. Fultz — who recently returned from a long-awaited absence due to a shoulder injury — was not injured on the play.

Immediately after his injuries, the 24-year-old Cameroonian center passed the NBA’s locker room concussion assessment tool. Embiid was then placed in concussion protocol after he began experiencing symptoms.

Embiid was released from the hospital on Thursday but will not travel with the 76ers to Atlanta for Friday’s game against the Hawks, the Sixers said.

Embiid is averaging 22.9 points, 11 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

Kevin Love left the Cleveland Cavaliers’ terrible 98-79 loss to the Heat in Miami in the second quarter on Tuesday night following a gruesome tooth injury.

Kevin Love tooth injury update

The power forward was elbowed in the face by Jordan Mickey while attempting to take a charge and did not return. The Caaliers later announced that Love displayed signs of a concussion.

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Love recently returned from a 21-game absence due to a broken left hand. Thus far, the veteran has been averaging 18 points and 9.4 rebounds per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 41.1 percent from 3-point range.

Love also published an article in The Players’ Tribune earlier this month about mental health, using his experience of suffering a panic attack before a game at the beginning of the season as an example for discussing the issue.

Cleveland (44-30) is third in the Eastern Conference seven games behind the second-place Boston Celtics and half a game behind the fourth-place Philadelphia 76ers. The Cavs next visit Charlotte on Wednesday.

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has been cleared from the concussion protocol and will play in Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Rob Gronkowski injury news update

Gronkowski, 28, participated fully in Thursday’s practice. The All-Pro missed the Patriots’ Super Bowl victory last year due to a back injury. Defensive lineman Deatrich Wise also practiced after being cleared from concussion protocol.

Gronkowski had been sidelined since taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from Jacksonville Jaguars safety Barry Church during the first half of New England’s AFC Championship Game victory. Gronk addressed the injury with reporters Thursday.

“It’s football. It is what it is,” he said. “I mean, it’s a split second to make a decision. It’s running full speed one way. I’m going the other way. It’s just part of the game. It happens. Just got to move on… But yeah, I had a concussion for sure obviously or else I would have never been in protocol this whole time, for the last 10 days or however long it’s been. Everything’s going good.”

Fans and players alike chimed in on social media when the hit occurred, and most seemed to agree the hit was inevitable.

The tight end led the Patriots in receiving during the 2017 regular season with 69 catches for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns. Gronkowski and the Pats will face a tough opponent in the Philadelphia Eagles, who finished the regular season ranked fourth in the NFL in defense.

Philadelphia is giving up 229 yards per game through the air in the playoffs.

Tom Brady has called Gronk a “dynamic player.”

“I’ve played with him a long time, I’ve thrown him a lot of footballs,” said the quarterback. “He knows exactly what to do, he knows where to expect the ball, when to expect it. He’s just a tremendous player for our team.”

In addition to Gronk’s return to the squad, the Patriots also received a visit from former defensive lineman Vince Wilfork, who won Super Bowls with the team after the 2004 and 2014 seasons.

Super Bowl LII will begin at 6:30 pm ET on Sunday.

DENVER, CO – JANUARY 24: Tight end Rob Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots after a reception during the AFC Championship game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 24, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Patriots 20-18. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Indianapolis Colts tight end Brandon Williams was diagnosed with a concussion after being transported to a local hospital during Thursday night’s 25-13 home loss to the Denver Broncos.

Brandon Williams head injury news

Colts coach Chuck Pagano stated Williams was released from the hospital and is being treated by the team’s medical staff.

“It was a pretty scary thing… but he’s back here,” said Pagano following the game. “He’s doing well.”

Williams sustained the injury in the second quarter and was carted off the field at Lucas Oil Stadium on a stretcher. He was blocking Broncos linebacker Deiontrez Mount on a punt early in the quarter.

Colts tight end Jack Doyle said he was “upset” when he saw his teammate down.

“Worried about him. Worried about his family that’s watching on TV,” Doyle said. “You think about all those things because Brandon is such a great person, great teammate and great friend. It’s just hard to see, so I just hope he’ll be all right.”

Williams has nine catches for 121 yards this season. His college career at Oregon ended a year early due to a spinal condition.

In the summer of 2011, Williams was told he had spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal column. In 2013, an MRI revealed his condition had improved, and doctors told the tight end there was nothing to stop him from playing in the NFL.

He played with the Carolina Panthers from 2013 to 2015, had a brief stint with the Miami Dolphins and signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 2016. He signed as a free agent with the Colts in September.

The Colts (3-11) next visit Baltimore on Dec. 23 before hosting Houston on Dec. 31 to close out their season. The Broncos (5-9) will visit Washington on Dec. 24 and then host Kansas City for their regular season finale.

Promising New Orleans Saints rookie running back Alvin Kamara was taken out of his team’s 20-17 loss to the Falcons in Atlanta on Thursday night after absorbing a vicious hit on the Saints’ first drive.

Alvin Kamara Injury News

Kamara — a third-round draft pick out of Tennessee — immediately jogged off the field and was evaluated for a concussion by trainers before being escorted back to the locker room. He was then ruled out.

The breakout rusher became injured when he was swarmed for a four-yard loss on a screen pass and took a helmet-to-helmet hit on a tackle from Falcons linebacker Deion Jones.

Jones intercepted a pass from Drew Brees in the end zone with less than two minutes left to give Atlanta (8-5, 3rd in NFC South) the victory. Matt Bryant added a 52-yard field goal with just under four minutes remaining.

After Jones’ interception, the Falcons were able to run out the clock with the help of an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty on Saints coach Sean Payton.

Kamara tweeted early Friday morning that he didn’t seem too concerned about missing any additional time.

Kamara, 22, has emerged as a strong contender for the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award with 608 rushing yards, 639 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. He is ranked second in the league with 990 total yards from scrimmage from Weeks 6-14, only behind Pittsburgh’s Le’Veon Bell. 

The Saints (9-4, 1st in NFC South) also lost three starters on defense: rookie defensive end Trey Hendrickson, linebacker A.J. Klein and left guard Senio Kelemete. The latter may have also sustained a concussion and did not return.

New Orleans pass rusher Mark Ingram could likely play a larger role if Kamara is out for a while.

Matt Ryan finished 15-of-27 for 221 yards and a touchdown. Brees completed 26-of-35 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns, plus the costly interception.

The Falcons next visit Tampa Bay on Dec. 18, while the Saints — who had an eight-game win streak earlier this season will host the New York Jets on Dec. 17.

ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 07: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints warms up prior to facing the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 7, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Jay Cutler will return as a starter this week for the Miami Dolphins.

Jay Cutler Concussion News

The veteran quarterback has cleared concussion protocol and can thus start against the Denver Broncos at home Sunday, coach Adam Gase told reporters Wednesday.

Cutler, 34, missed the Dolphins’ (4-7, 4th in AFC East) 35-17 loss to the New England Patriots last week due to a concussion he sustained in the prior week’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He has thrown for 1,602 yards, 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season. Cutler practiced on Wednesday.

“He’ll be all right,” Gase said, per Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post. “We’ll get a good week of practice. We need to make sure we get the ball out on time.”

Cutler will replace Matt Moore, who struggled against the Patriots offense last week. The Dolphins — who have lost five straight games — rank 30th in total offense and has the NFL’s 31st-ranked passing attack.

In other injury news, running backs Damien Williams (shoulder) and Senorise Perry (concussion protocol) will not practice Wednesday.

Both players are expected to miss Sunday’s game against Denver, leaving Miami with one healthy running back. The Dolphins promoted running back De’Veon Smith from the practice squad later Wednesday.

The Broncos (3-8), meanwhile, have lost seven straight contests.

CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 31: Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears throws a pass during the first half against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field on October 31, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

New York Jets cornerback Buster Skrine sustained a concussion in Sunday’s loss to the Miami Dolphins, and may not be prepared to play in Sunday’s home matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

Buster Skrine Injury News

Skrine, 28, has suffered three concussions in the last two years. With 7:32 left in Sunday’s loss in Miami, the cornerback — who is in his third season with the Jets — crashed into wide receiver Leonte Caroo on a pick play near the goal line. Skrine’s helmet came off during the play.

Skrine committed three penalties and allowed three touchdown passes, including one to Kenny Stills a few plays after his collision with Carroo. He played the rest of Sunday’s game, however.

“I guess it happened during the game,” said Jets coach Todd Bowles. “He didn’t come in until Monday morning.”

Skrine suffered a concussion in Week 6 of the 2015 season, though he played the following week. He also suffered a concussion in Week 15 last season and sat out the next game.

Xavier Coleman, Skrine’s backup at nickel back, was placed on injured reserve Wednesday with a shoulder injury. The Jets promoted cornerback Robert Nelson from the practice squad, although it reportedly still remains unclear who can replace Skrine.

Skrine has started all seven games this season. The Jets (3-4) are fourth in the AFC East.

ORCHARD PARK, NY – NOVEMBER 30: Buster Skrine #22 of the Cleveland Browns warms up before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on November 30, 2014 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

Jacoby Ellsbury made an amazing wall-catch on the first pitch of the New York Yankees‘ 3-0 home victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night, but the snag came at a cost.

Jacoby Ellsbury Crashes into Wall at Yankee Stadium, gets Concussion

The 33-year-old outfielder collided into the center-field wall following a long run to rob Alcides Escobar of an extra-base hit. Ellsbury fell to the ground at Yankee Stadium, and after being tended to by trainer Steve Donohue, was diagnosed with a sprained neck and a concussion, the latter of which was announced in the fifth inning.

Ellsbury left at the top of the first inning and was replaced by Aaron Hicks. 

“He’s on the seven-day concussion DL,” manager Joe Girardi said of Ellsbury, who is in his fourth season with the Yankees, after the game. “Obviously we’ll have to make a move. We haven’t had a chance to talk about it yet.

“I haven’t had a chance to have a chance to talk to [GM Brian Cashman] about it,” Girardi continued. “A lot of times when you have a situation when you feel it’s going to be short (the DL stint), you might do something different than if you felt it was going to be long.”

Girardi added that when he and Donohue evaluated Ellsbury, the center fielder told them he “felt like it was his neck that was bothering him a little bit. Nothing to do with his head.” The Yankees manager called Ellsbury’s injury a “whiplash.”

Several Yankees players, meanwhile, lauded Ellsbury — a 2011 all-star and Gold Glove winner — for his spectacular play.

“It set the tone of the game,” stated left fielder Brett Gardner (via the Associated Press), who had also sprinted for Escobar’s drive and was the first to check on Ellsbury’s condition. “Escobar is standing on third, or it’s 1-0 if it comes out of his glove.”

Rookie right fielder Aaron Judge also complimented his teammate.

“Not too many people in the game make that play,” said Judge. “I don’t know how he held onto that ball. He hit that fence pretty hard.”

This is not the first time this season Ellsbury has crashed into the center field wall at Yankee Stadium.

On May 1, the outfielder slammed into the wall to make a catch on a hit by Toronto’s Ryan Goins. Nevertheless, his errant toss in the sixth inning of that game led the Blue Jays to score on a two-run sacrifice fly:

Following that play, Ellsbury missed two games due to a bruised nerve in his throwing elbow.

The Yankees (27-17, 1st in AL East) lead their four-game home series against the Royals 2-1, with Thursday afternoon’s finale postponed due to rain.

The Bombers next host the Oakland Athletics for the opener of a three-game series on Friday at 7:05 pm EST.

The NFL is reviewing Tom Brady’s medical records as part of an investigation after his wife Gisele Bundchen alleged the New England Patriots quarterback suffered a concussion during the 2016 season.

Gisele Bundchen Claims Tom Brady Had Concussion In 2016 Season

“I just have to say, as a wife, as you know [the NFL] is not the most, let’s say, unaggressive sport. Football, he had a concussion last year,” the Brazilian supermodel said in an interview on Wednesday’s CBS This Morning. “He has concussions pretty much every… I mean we don’t talk about it. But he has concussions and I don’t really think it’s a healthy thing for your body to go through. You know, that kind of aggression all the time, that cannot be healthy for you. I’m planning on having him be healthy and do a lot of fun things when we’re like 100 I hope.”

In a statement released Wednesday, the NFL announced it is working with the Players Association — the league’s union — to collect more information from the unaffiliated medical consultants and certified athletic trainer spotters who worked during the Patriots’ home and away games last season. The NFL, which said the investigation had thus far yielded no evidence to support Bundchen’s concussion claims, is also assessing club injury reports given to the league office.

“There are no records that indicate that Mr. Brady suffered a head injury or concussion, or exhibited or complained of concussion symptoms,” the league’s statement read.

“The health and safety of our players is our foremost priority and we want to ensure that all our players have and continue to receive the best care possible,” the NFL added.

The NFL and NFLPA hold a process under their collective-bargaining agreement to look into potential deviations from concussion protocol.

One NFLPA spokesman mentioned a statement that executive director DeMaurice Smith made earlier Wednesday. Smith told CSN Mid-Atlantic the Players Association would “proceed with our process as we normally would for any player” and cited steps the union has taken in recent years to improve player health and safety, particularly regarding the prevention of concussions.

The NFL unveiled new protocols last July designed to examine and remove players with concussion symptoms. Teams that don’t comply could be dealt hefty fines and/or lose draft picks.

In May 2016, Brady said NFL players should seek help for head injuries immediately.

“You’d hate to stop doing something you love to do because of an injury,” the quarterback told ABC News last May. I’ve been very fortunate over the course of my career.”

According to Stats LLC, Brady has missed only 19 games since becoming New England’s starting quarterback in 2001, 15 of them in one season after he injured his knee. The other four games Brady missed came at the beginning of the 2016 season, when he was suspended due to his alleged involvement in the “Deflate-gate” scandal.

Brady has denied any wrongdoing in that scandal, which centered on the Patriots’s use of deflated footballs during the AFC Championship Game victory over the Indianapolis Colts in 2015.

The quarterback, who will be 40 in August, helped lead New England to a Super Bowl LI victory over the Atlanta Falcons in February by mounting largest comeback in the NFL championship game’s history.

The Patriots and Brady’s agent Don Yee had no comment on the NFL’s efforts to improve player health and safety.

HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 05: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates with wife Gisele Bundchen and daughter Vivian Brady after defeating the Atlanta Falcons during Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. The Patriots defeated the Falcons 34-28. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Sidney Crosby has clarified confusion about his health by confirming he received a medical evaluation and was cleared to play after he collided head-first into the boards during the first period of Pittsburgh’s Game 6 home loss to the Washington Capitals on Monday night.

Sidney Crosby Feels ‘Fine’ After Game 6 Head-First Crash Into Boards

The Penguins star completely participated in the team’s Tuesday practice, and said he simply had the wind knocked out of him by the crash.

Crosby slowly skated off the ice after being tripped by Capitals goalie Braden Holtby with just over two minutes remaining in the opening period, which caused the Penguins scorer to go flying and crash violently into the end-boards behind the net-minder. Pittsburgh right wing Patric Hornqvist and Washington defenseman John Carlson also slammed into the boards and fell on top of Crosby.

Crosby said he was “checked out” by a trainer and was assessed ok to play for the next playoff game.

“Any guy who goes into the boards like that, the first thing is the trainer and then the doctor,” Crosby said.

The Penguins’ top scorer said he went into the boards awkwardly. “But I felt fine,” he added, saying he didn’t know whether he was “tripped up by a stick” or something else.

Part of the confusion over whether Crosby needed to enter concussion protocol was caused by Mike Sullivan. When asked during a post-game press conference if the forward had been evaluated, the Pittsburgh coach said “no.” Sullivan said he believed the question was about whether or not Crosby had officially entered concussion protocol.

“The medical staff and (concussion) spotters are responsible for identifying players to go through protocol,” Sullivan said. “If they go through protocol, I usually get notified by our medical staff. I did not. That’s the process. It’s completely out of our control as coaches.”

Concussion spotters were not authorized to pull Crosby following his crash into the boards on Monday because his collision was not deemed a “mechanism of injury” that merits removal from the game under NHL guidelines.

Under the NHL’s current concussion rules, the league’s primary concussion spotter would only have been able to remove Crosby from the game if his head had struck another player or the ice. The boards are not considered a means of injury.

“Depending on the mechanism of injury, ‘slow to get up’ does not trigger mandatory removal,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told USA TODAY Sports. “The protocol has to be interpreted literally to mandate a removal. ‘Ice’ as compared to ‘boards’ is in there for a reason. It’s the result of a study on our actual experiences over a number of years. ‘Ice’ has been found to be a predictor of concussions — ‘boards’ has not been.”

Daly added that concussion spotters don’t take a player’s concussion history into account.

Chris Nowinski, the co-founder and CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, stated that the NHL has a “poorly written rule” with regards to this type of injury that “must be amended” as soon as possible.

“Any head contact is a possible mechanism of injury,” Nowinski said. “I can’t believe we have to say that in 2017.”

Crosby was diagnosed with a concussion after being struck in the head by a cross-check from Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen in Game 3 on May 1, and missed the rest of the matchup and all of Game 4 as a result. The Eastern Conference Semifinal series is tied 3-3, with Game 7 set for Wednesday at 7:30 pm EST in Washington.

PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 01: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins leaves the ice with trainer Chris Stewart after taking a hit in the first period while playing the Washington Capitals in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena on May 1, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Despite suffering his second concussion in the last two years, Luke Kuechly says he is not yet done with football.

Panthers LB Luke Kuechly: No Plans To Retire After Second Concussion

The Carolina Panthers All-Pro middle linebacker stated Wednesday he has no plans to retire from the NFL just yet.

Kuechly, 25, has missed seven games in the past two years with concussions, including the last four this season.

He added that although he appreciates the overwhelming concern of his family and his friends around the league, “I’m holding off that retirement word for probably a little ways down the road. … Whenever my opportunity comes back, I will be back out there.”

Kuechly’s teammate, quarterback Cam Newton, expressed some fear earlier this season after his concussion. The linebacker, however, defiantly stated he is not worried about the long-term effects of concussions, which have been linked to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in football players.

“I’m not worried about (CTE) and I think there is a lot to be learned from it,” Kuechly said.

Kuechly was cleared by independent physicians to play Monday night against the Washington Redskins, although head coach Ron Rivera erred on the side of caution and kept him out for at least one more week.

Rivera hasn’t decided if Kuechly will play against Atlanta on Saturday, or at all for the rest of this season.

“He wants to play, but I have told him that I have a lot of things to weigh,” Rivera said.

The Panthers (6-8) will likely miss the playoffs this year.

Kuechly has four years remaining on a six-year, $62 million contract he signed in 2015.

The team’s first-round pick out of Boston College in 2012, Kuechly was injured on Nov. 17 after a collision with New Orleans Saints running back Tim Hightower.

The linebacker hasn’t played since sustaining the concussion, although he continues to practice every day.

Kuechly, praised by defensive coordinator Sean McDermott for his high football IQ, has spent the last four games on the Carolina sidelines holding a clipboard and playing the role of assistant coach.

“The great thing that he has done best is he has stayed involved in everything that we do,” safety Kurt Coleman said. “He’s the ultimate teammate. Whether he’s playing or not playing, he’s so focused on the details and he’s helping everyone around him whether he’s on the field or not. He’s not letting the situation take away from the team.”

CHARLOTTE, NC – NOVEMBER 17: Luke Kuechly #59 of the Carolina Panthers returns a blocked field goal against the New Orleans Saints in the second quarter during the game at Bank of America Stadium on November 17, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Sidney Crosby skated Tuesday morning during an informal practice for the Pittsburgh Penguins, which is fantastic news for the team, given that it was announced Monday that the captain had been diagnosed with another concussion.

Sidney Crosby Shoots Down Concussion Claims

The Penguins claimed the concussion occurred Friday during practice. Crosby, 29, said on Tuesday that he “just kinda got tangled up” during that practice and awoke Saturday morning feeling headaches he suspected could be concussion-related. Crosby consulted team doctors and entered the concussion protocol.

The timeline of his head injury led some to believe that the injury may have occurred at the World Cup of Hockey, and didn’t manifest itself until after the tournament, which ended on Sept. 29. Crosby hasn’t played a game for Pittsburgh during the exhibition season, and the injury allegedly occurred in only his second practice of the preseason. His first practice was on Oct. 4.

The Canadian center suffered a series of head and neck injuries that sidetracked his stellar career from 2011 to 2012. He missed 107 games over the course of two seasons, and later admitted that he questioned whether he would ever play professional hockey again.

Crosby smiled incredulously when asked about the concussion theories on Tuesday.

“It happened on Friday in practice, so … I mean, uh, I think the team stated it happened on Friday in practice. So I don’t know why there’d be speculation about it happening in the World Cup,” he said.

What exactly happened during practice, then?

“How many people were here at practice on Friday?” Crosby asked the assembled Pittsburgh media. “That’s not up to me [to say]. It happened. I’m not making this up, so if nobody saw it, I don’t know what to tell you.”

As for Crosby’s status, the Penguins captain said the concussion protocol is what it is, although he remains optimistic.

“I feel confident and comfortable that I’ll be OK. I feel good,” he said. “You understand the process. I think that progress is a good thing. You go day by day. I was happy to be able to skate today.”

The Penguins begin their season on Oct. 13 at home against the Washington Capitals.

PITTSBURGH, PA – JUNE 15:  Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates during the Victory Parade and Rally on June 15, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

The Arizona Cardinals (1-3) have had a rough start to the season, and it just got worse.

Cardinals QB Carson Palmer Ruled Out For Thursday Vs 49ers Due To Concussion

Starting quarterback Carson Palmer will not play Thursday night against the 49ers in San Francisco due to a concussion, per Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. 

Palmer, 36, suffered a concussion in last week’s 17-13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, and has yet to be cleared by an independent neurologist. Thus, he will not travel with the team this week out of precaution, coach Bruce Arians stated.

Drew Stanton will thus replace Palmer on Thursday for his first start of the season. The game will mark Stanton’s first start since 2014 when he made eight in place of Palmer (shoulder, ACL). Stanton is 7-5 in his career as a starter — 5-3 in 2014.

Stanton can lead the Cardinals offense well enough, but doesn’t have the downfield ability of Palmer, and struggles with accuracy and fitting balls into tight windows.

In relief last Sunday he completed 4 of 11 passes (36.4 percent) for 37 yards and two interceptions.

Stanton is a career 54 percent passer. In his 2014 season, he set a career-high with a 7.1 yards per pass average — that mark would currently place him 23rd in 2016.

Arizona should rely heavily on running backs David Johnson and Andre Ellington on Thursday against a San Francisco defense that has allowed 165.7 rushing yards per game over Week 2-4.

The Cardinals also promoted Zac Dysert from the practice squad so they would have an active backup to Stanton.

HOUSTON, TX – AUGUST 28: Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals passes against the Houston Texans in the first quarter of a preseason NFL game at NRG Stadium on August 28, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Eugenie Bouchard’s tumble at the 2015 U.S. Open remains an incident that is very present in the minds of many.

Eugenie Bouchard Falls In Day 2 Of 2016 Open

The 22-year-old Canadian, who late one night after a mixed-doubles victory sustained a concussion that forced her to withdraw and miss subsequent tournaments, filed a lawsuit in October against the U.S. Open and the United States Tennis Association.

The 39th-ranked Bouchard lost her first-round match at this year’s Open on Tuesday against 20-year-old Czech Katerina Siniakova, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. The win marked Siniakova’s first career U.S. open victory.

Nearly one year after Bouchard’s concussion, the case that began surround it is far from settled. No depositions have been taken.

In a statement last week, Chris Widmaier, the U.S.T.A.’s managing director of corporate communications, re-stated the organization’s position of not commenting on ongoing litigation, although he added that he was disappointed with the tennis star from Montreal.

“It is truly unfortunate that a year after her accident, Genie’s focus is on matters other than playing to her best ability,” Widmaier said, adding: “Her lawyers asked for an extension; the U.S.T.A. on the other hand, has remained ready, willing and able to bring the litigation to a conclusion as expeditiously as is possible, whether through settlement discussions or a fully litigated process.”

Widmaier also said the litigation would have “no impact” on how Bouchard was treated at this year’s tournament, and he mentioned a wild card she was granted weeks ago into the Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio, as a show of support and good will. (The wild card was only for the qualifying draw.)

 Bouchard stated she had been treated well at the Open, although she rejected the U.S.T.A.’s assertion that her primary focus had been on her legal battle.

“I am 100 percent focused on tennis,” Bouchard said. “I have lawyers who are working on the case. I don’t think about it very often at all — maybe once a month when they call me.”

She added: “Yeah, I’m disappointed in what happened, so I have to fight for what I think is right.”

Benedict Morelli, Bouchard’s lawyer, stated in an interview last week that taking a deposition from his client before the Open would have been a distraction, and that she would be ready once her season finished in October.

“You can’t disrupt her training as she’s starting the Open,” Morelli said. “You’ll take it on her break.”

 Bouchard’s suit maintains that the organizers are liable because her injury resulted from a slippery, foreign substance on a tile floor, in a room that was left open and unattended.

“They know that they caused this problem,” Morelli said. “They don’t deny that she fell, they don’t deny she got hurt, and they’re not disputing any of that. Then why not concede that you’re the one who set up this whole situation of a slippery floor?”

Morelli also stated he objected to what he considered unnecessarily “hardball” legal strategies, including the serving of a subpoena to the limousine driver who took Bouchard and her mother, Julie Leclair, to the hospital.

Morelli did not give specifics on the amount he sought in damages for Bouchard. He has previously indicated that he is seeking “millions and millions.”

Aside from Siniakova, another winner at the US Open on Tuesday was fifth-ranked Romanian Simona Halep. The 24-year-old cruised through her opening-round match, defeating Kirsten Flipkens 6-0, 6-2.

No. 6-seed Venus Williams, meanwhile, won a tough battle against 22-year-old Ukrainian Kateryna Kozlova in the last day session match on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday. After taking the first set in 38 minutes, Williams dropped the second despite initially leading 3-0. Nevertheless, the American– a two-time U.S. Open champion– ultimaetly came away with the first-round win, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4.

On the men’s side, after winning bronze in singles at the Rio Olympics, Japan’s Kei Nishikori beat German Benjamin Becker, 6-1, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, in his opening match. The No. 6-seed will next play Russian qualifier Karen Khachanov, who beat Thomas Fabbiano 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 on Tuesday.

 No. 3-seed Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland advanced in straight sets in his first match, beating Spain’s Fernando Verdasco 7-6(4), 6-4, 6-4 for his 20th hard-court win of the season.

Caption:MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 20: Eugenie Bouchard of Canada plays a forehand in her second round match against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during day three of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 20, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. will miss Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway after experiencing concussion-like symptoms, his team announced Thursday.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. To Miss New Hampshire Race With Concussion Symptoms

Alex Bowman will replace Earnhardt in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet in the New Hampshire 301, and the team said it does not know when Earnhardt will return to the car.

In a statement, Earnhardt said he did not feel well before Saturday’s Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway. The 41-year-old driver believed he was suffering from severe allergies, and was evaluated by doctors this week in Charlotte. He was not cleared to race.

“I saw a family doctor and was given medication for allergies and a sinus infection,” said Earnhardt. “When that didn’t help, I decided to dig a little deeper. Because of my symptoms and my history with concussions, and after my recent wrecks at Michigan and Daytona, I reached out and met with a neurological specialist. After further evaluation, they felt it was best for me to sit out.

“I’m disappointed about missing New Hampshire this weekend. I’m looking forward to treatment with the goal of getting back in the race car when the doctors say I’m ready.”

Earnhardt’s absence will not help his chances to make the 16-car field for the Chase. He is No. 13 in the standings with with zero wins following a 13th-place finish in Kentucky. The New Hampshire 301 is the first of the eight remaining pre-Chase races.

Hendrick Motorsports will provide an update next week on Earnhardt’s status for the July 24 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Earlier this year, Earnhardt announced that he had decided to donate his brain for scientific and medical research. He stated he made the decision after hearing about professional football players making the same choice because concussions and other head injuries have been a significant problem in the NFL.

The driver suffered two concussions while racing four years ago and thus missed two races.

He did not race at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway in the fall of 2012 after being involved in a huge crash at Talladega Superspeedway on the race’s final lap.

Earnhardt admitted that he had had issues after an Aug. 29 crash during a tire test at Kansas Speedway that season. A concussion caused by that crash was diagnosed later.

Before the 2014 season, NASCAR instituted neurocognitive tests for all drivers in its three national series, partly due to concussion issues. The tests measure visual memory, verbal memory, processing speed and reaction time and set baselines in each area.

Two doctors with experience in treating sports-related concussions say the severity and number of concussions are key factors when they decide to recommend that an injured athlete retire. Neither doctor has treated Earnhardt.

“You typically look at the age, the concussion history and the type of activity they’re doing,” Luga Podesta, director of sports medicine at St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson, N.Y., told USA TODAY Sports. “If they’re starting to come in with multiple concussions in a year or over several years, you start to look at them maybe doing something else before they cause more damage.”

If Earnhardt– who is winless this year– returns to the car, he would need a win, a spot in the top 30 in points and a medical waiver from NASCAR to qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup or to qualify on points.

“I’m proud of Dale for standing up,” Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, said in a statement. “The number one priority is his health, so we’re going to give him all the time he needs. We completely support the decision by the doctors and will be ready to go win races when he’s 100 percent. In the meantime, we have full confidence in Greg (crew chief Greg Ives) and the team, and we know they’ll do a great job.”

Bowman, 23, drives part-time in the Xfinity Series in Chevrolets owned by Earnhardt’s team, JR Motorsports.

AVONDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 15:  Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the rain-shortened NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 15, 2015 in Avondale, Arizona.  (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)