The Buffalo Bills drop to 3-2 on the season after a 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans on a 59-yard, game winning field goal. That field goal was the final nail in the coffin for a Bills team that struggled to complete passes all game and only threatened in the very end. There were many decisions that are now being questioned as the game gets farther away from the final whistle.
Despite the loss, the Bills are still in the lead in the AFC East and came out of the game injury wise pretty clean. This can only benefit them as the prepare with an extra day off to face the New York Jets on Monday Night Football in Week 6.
Below are all injuries coming out of Sunday’s loss along with other observations.
In-Game Injuries
QB Josh Allen (Concussion check, Chest, Ankle)
Allen had the entire fan base concerned when he was taken down by two Texans defenders as he tried to throw the ball down the field with 6:06 left in the fourth quarter. His feet were wrapped by one and he had another player sail over him as his head bounced off the turf twice.
Training staff came out to assess him where he was taken off the field and into the blue medical tent for a concussion check. He only missed one snap before he was able to return to the field to attempt a game-winning drive that ultimately fell short.
After the game Allen noted that he rolled his ankle the play prior and also dealt with getting hit in the chest, and he was taken out due to the head check. The tweet above notes when he could have rolled the ankle, specifically the right side as he was being tackled. This may have also been when he hit his chest, though he did fall on the right shoulder during the next play. It’s possible he had the wind knocked out of him hitting the turf, though the fall appeared to be less severe than the prior hit noted above.
When Allen’s head hit the turf, I did assume that this was severe enough for a concussion, but he cleared the initial testing and returned to play much to my surprise. There has been discussion as to whether he lost consciousness when he fell and hit the turf.
The league has independent athletic trainers that act as spotters that sit in the press box and flag down for any potential injury assessments, including concussions. They either flagged him on that play or medical staff in addition made that determination when they went out. The ATC’s above have video review which could have determined if he lost consciousness.
If he did indeed have a LOC, that would have been one of the criteria to immediately remove him from the game and taken into the locker room. From my vantage point, the concussion assessment protocol worked as intended. If he did get knocked out, he fooled everyone then. Furthermore, any concussion assessment on game day warrants another assessment the following day per the updated guidelines in 2022 after the Tua Tagovailoa debacle.
Based on the information that is present in front of us, Josh Allen had a hit to the head which warranted a further assessment by training staff. He passed that assessment and there was not anything inconclusive or suspicious of a concussion that warranted further assessment at that present time. Therefore, he was safe to return to the game.
Things can and do change often like we saw last year with Dalton Kincaid. He had nearly the exact same situation where he was cleared to return and later developed symptoms. We have to believe the doctors are doing the best in the moment with what information they have to make the best decision for the player’s health, regardless of player popularity or importance.
We’ll see if the chest, ankle, or even left hand injury shows up on the injury report come Thursday when the first injury report comes out. He did get rid of the tape on his middle and ring fingers for this game after he was seen in practice on Friday without it. But it appears Allen is good to go for Monday from a head injury standpoint.
Other Observations
LB Terrel Bernard (Left Pectoral strain)
Like the tweet says, Bernard looked good. He recovered faster than I thought and looked even better than I had expected him to. He played in 100 percent of defensive snaps and did not appear to hesitate at all. He even was a difference maker in snagging that game-changing interception. Let’s hope he continues to improve and shore up the middle of the defense.
OT Dion Dawkins (Right Hamstring)
Dawkins played in 100 percent of snaps and did not appear to have any instance of favoring his hamstring nor reports during the game.
Final Thoughts
It was an ugly finish to a game that the Bills did not deserve to win. While still 3-2, they move onto the New York Jets in Week 6 and have a chance to secure another divisional victory against an opponent that already appears on the ropes. Fortunately, the Bills did not suffer any new injuries according to the press conference Monday which means they can work to get several guys back and not add to the lengthy report.
We will get more injury updates as the week progresses beginning Thursday along with the possible return of Taron Johnson and others.
Top Photo Credit: Thomas Shea
