Nyheim Hines injury: Colts RB out of game vs Broncos with a concussion

DENVER — The Colts are playing the rest of Thursday night’s game without the only two running backs who’ve seen significant time this season.

With Jonathan Taylor already out of action due to an ankle injury, Nyheim Hines started the game for Indianapolis, and was given the ball on the first three plays.

On the third play, Hines took a swing pass from Matt Ryan and took a hit to the head, then struggled to get his balance as he got to his feet, staggering to the side. Colts teammates in the area immediately started motioning to the bench.

Hines is being evaluated for a head injury, his return was initially announced as questionable before he was declared out.

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Given what has happened in the NFL over the last couple of weeks, it was unlikely that Hines would return. The NFL’s concussion spotlight has been in scrutiny ever since last Thursday’s game, when Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion and went into the fencing position, with his hands up by his face and contorted.

Tagovailoa had hit his head in the Dolphins’ game that Sunday and came up staggering and shaking his head, but his injury was announced as a back injury. The NFLPA fired the independent concussion spotter from that game, and the NFL’s lead doctor, Allen Sills, has said publicly that there are changes coming to the NFL’s concussion protocol.

Hines has never missed a game in his five-year career with the Colts.

Hines needed help to get off the field. He walked on his own to the locker room.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts vs Broncos: Nyheim Hines (concussion) out