The NFL Players’ Association is questioning whether the proper steps were taken with Oakland Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor on Monday night after he suffered a concussion in a 37-21 loss in Denver.
Pryor absorbed a legal helmet-to-helmet hit from Broncos linebacker Wesley Woodyard on a run near the goal line in the fourth quarter. He stayed in the game for two more plays before coming out and then being escorted to the locker room for evaluation.
The union has concerns about whether the Raiders followed the league’s concussion protocol.
“It’s questionable,” a source told ESPN.
Pryor lay face down on the field for a moment after the hit. Before the next play, there was a two-minute, 50-second delay while officials reviewed whether Pryor had fumbled.
But Raiders coach Dennis Allen said Pryor showed no concussion symptoms after the hit.
“Football’s a tough sport, and there’s going to be collisions and you try to do everything you can to make sure that you’re taking into account player safety. And I think our medical people followed the protocol that’s set forth by the NFL,” Allen said.
The union will wait to review game tape before deciding how to proceed.
“All indications are that the Raiders followed the proper protocol,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told ProFootballTalk.com.
Pryor posted Tuesday on Twitter that his memory of what happened during the game was vague.
“Sorry about the loss RaiderNation. I don’t remember much ! Good hit by whoever it was. I heard our team fought well .. We will be back!”
Pryor’s status remains up in the air for Sunday’s home game against the Washington Redskins.