Concussion Watch: NFL Head Injuries in Week 6

Through the first six games of the NFL season, teams have reported a total of 44 concussions on the league’s official injury report. Last week, we added 8 new players to our Concussion Watch database. This past weekend, at least six more players appeared to suffer a concussion. As we look ahead to next weekend’s games, these are the names we’ll be watching for on the next injury report:

Danny Amendola, New England Patriots

Danny Amendola was knocked out of New England’s Week 6 win over the Saints with what the Patriots described as a head injury.

Amendola took a blow to the head from New Orleans safety Rafael Bush, sending him immediately to the ground. “He had to be helped to his feet,” reported Sports Illustrated, “then woozily walked to the Patriots’ locker room, stopping on more than one occasion to turn back toward the field.”

No penalty was called on the play. If the injury is a concussion, it would be Amendola’s second since 2009.

David Amerson, Washington Redskins

Redskins cornerback David Amerson was caught with his head down while defending a punt return against the Cowboys in Week 6, suffering a frightening blindside hit from linebacker Cameron Lawrence as a result. Amerson left the game with a concussion, according to The Washington Post.

“It was definitely helmet-to-helmet,” said Redskins coach Mike Shanahan after the game. “… That’s just a guy with a little inexperience. Next time he’s in that position, he’ll make the tackle.”

Dan Connolly, New England Patriots

Dan Connolly was the second Patriots player to exit Week 6 because of an apparent concussion. New England’s starting right guard left the game after just two offensive series, ESPN reported. The Patriots later confirmed the injury on Twitter.

The concussion was Connolly’s second in as many seasons. In 2012, he suffered a concussion in the Patriots’ season opener after colliding with teammate Rob Gronkowski.

Jerrell Freeman, Indianapolis Colts

Jerrell Freeman sat out the second half of the Colts’ Week 6 game after being diagnosed with a concussion.

The Indianapolis linebacker originally left the game with a cut chin. “It was thought he would miss a series or two while trainers patched him up,” the sports site SB Nation reported. “The hit was harder than initially thought as he became the next in a long line of Colts’ defensive injuries.”

Jason Snelling, Atlanta Falcons

Jason Snelling scored an early touchdown for the Falcons in their Week 5 loss to the Jets, but he left the game following Atlanta’s first drive of the fourth quarter. The Falcons later announced on Twitter that he had a concussion and would not return to the game.

Because the Falcons did not play this past Sunday, they did not have to release an injury report. As such, we are keeping Snelling on our watch list to see if his concussion is added to the injury report for Week 7. If so, Snelling would be the first member of the Falcons to go on the injury report for a concussion since the start of the regular season. In 2012, the Falcons reported just two concussions for the season, tied for the fewest in the NFL.

Kyle Wilson, New York Jets

Jets cornerback Kyle Wilson left Week 6 with what coach Rex Ryan described as a head injury in postgame remarks.

“The Jets were evasive Monday about whether he suffered a concussion,” according to a report by ESPN, but the team said it would have more information about the extent of the injury midweek.

Melvin White, Carolina Panthers

The Charlotte Observer reported that Melvin White was placed in the league’s concussion protocol after leaving the Panthers’ Week 6 game with a head injury. It wasn’t clear how White was injured. As with all players in the protocol, he’ll need to be cleared by an independent neurologist before he can return to play.