The NFL is back.
And so are the head injuries.
By halftime of the first slate of Sunday games, nearly every game had seen at least one player go down with a possible concussion.
In most of those cases, the head injuries were scary.
- Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown took a midair hit to the head, spun around, and fumbled the ball out of the end zone. Diagnosis: Concussion.
- Miami Dolphins tight end Dion Sims was knocked unconscious, after attempting a diving catch. Diagnosis: Concussion.
- Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly — the star defensive player who just signed a $62 million contract — collapsed on the field after making a tackle with his head. Diagnosis: Concussion.
- St. Louis Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson, who made several tackles and a dynamic interception, took himself out after suffering symptoms. Diagnosis: Concussion.
At least two other players — Chicago Bears wide receiver and kick returner Eddie Royal, and Dolphins lineman Branden Albert — were evaluated for concussions, but both passed the protocol and returned to their games.
(Update, 4:45 p.m.: The NFL's injury list continued to grow across Sunday afternoon, as several other prominent players suffered head injuries. Baltimore Ravens lineman Eugene Monroe was ruled out with a concussion, Buffalo Bills safety Corey Graham was in the concussion protocol, and New York Jets rookie Lorenzo Mauldin suffered a head/neck injury and was taken by ambulance to a hospital.)
(Update, 10:15 p.m.: At least nine players have been ruled out of games so far in Week 1 with concussions, and several others suffered injuries that required them to go through the concussion protocol.)
The NFL has trumpeted improved player safety, and says that the number of concussions is going down. But for all the talk of better protocols, the game is built on large, athletic men ramming into each other — often with their heads.
That brutality is one reason why the game appeals to tens of millions of Americans. But it's also why football is inherently, unavoidably risky, and why some talented young players are starting to walk away.
And if the start of the season is any indication, the NFL can't — and won't — escape its concussion problem anytime soon.
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Dan Diamond joins The Dan Patrick Show to discuss Chris Borland's retirement and the future of the NFL.
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