Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown out with concussion symptoms vs. Dallas Cowboys
ARLINGTON, Texas − Already playing without one of their top receivers, the Detroit Lions lost another early in Sunday's 24-6 loss to the Dallas Cowboys to the NFL's new concussion policy.
Amon-Ra St. Brown took a shot to the head by Cowboys linebacker Anthony Barr as he was tackled to the ground with 4:28 to play in the first quarter.
St. Brown hunched on all fours and lowered his head to the turf after the hit, and umpire Roy Ellison immediately stopped the clock and sent St. Brown to the Lions sideline. As St. Brown got to his feet, Ellison appeared to help the Lions receiver steady his balance.
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St. Brown spent several minutes in the blue medical evaluation tent on the sideline before the Lions ruled him out for the game with a brain injury.
The NFL and NFL Players Association agreed to changes to the league's concussion protocol earlier this month, after outcry over the handling of an incident involving Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa briefly left a game Sept. 25 against the Buffalo Bills after a hit by linebacker Matt Milano. Tagovailoa had balance issues following the play, but returned to the game after halftime. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said after the game Tagovailoa suffered a back injury.
Four days later, Tagovailoa suffered a brain injury when his head was slammed to the turf in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The NFL and NFLPA added language to their concussion policy requiring players showing "ataxia" to leave the game. Ataxia is an abnormality in balance stability, motor coordination or dysfunctional speech caused by a neurological issue.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said St. Brown "gave me the thumbs up" in the locker room after the game, "but who knows what that means."
St. Brown had a team-leading 23 catches in the Lions' first three games, but missed a Week 4 loss to the Seattle Seahawks with a high ankle sprain. He returned for a Week 5 loss to the New England Patriots, but played a limited role at less than 100%.
The Lions placed starting receiver DJ Chark on injured reserve Saturday with an ankle injury.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown out vs. Dallas Cowboys
