As the NFL preseason kicked off, at least five players for the Indianapolis Colts—including star running back Jonathan Taylor—made the choice to wear “Guardian Caps” during their opening game against the Denver Broncos. These blue, padded helmet coverings are the league’s latest effort to cut down on concussions and other head injuries.
Players attach the Guardian Caps, which feature a white outer layer with the team’s logo, to their regular helmets and make them mandatory during training camp practices. But for the first time this year, players can also choose to wear them during preseason and regular season games.
“Our (medical and equipment) guys here do a great job of keeping us informed,” said Colts running back Zavier Scott, who also sported the protective headwear. “They’ve done the testing, and I don’t know the numbers, but they say it offers a significant reduction in concussions.”
According to NFL research, the Guardian Cap can absorb at least 10% of the force of a hit to a player’s head. Despite the widespread praise for the impact-reducing benefits, some players still harbor doubts about donning the additional gear.
Tua Tagovailoa’s Concussion History
The ongoing scandal surrounding Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has recently thrust the issue of head injuries in the NFL into the spotlight. In Week 2, a slam to the ground in a game against the Buffalo Bills caused Tua to suffer at least his third career concussion.
Tua’s arms freezing in the air, a telltale sign of head trauma, led to his placement on injured reserve, causing him to miss the Dolphins’ next four games. Some even questioned whether Tua’s extensive concussion history would force him to retire from the sport.
However, Tua made his return to the field two weeks ago, suiting up for the Dolphins’ matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. He went on to play again last week against the Bills, the very team that had dealt him his latest concussion.
“I think the team did what was best in my interest, knowing that I’m a competitor, and given what the doctors have told me, having a substantial amount of time to rest and recover would have been good for me,” Tua said before his first game back.
Guardian Caps In The NFL
While Tua has opted not to wear a Guardian Cap, at least one of his Dolphins teammates, running back De’Von Achane, has been spotted donning the protective headgear. Achane suffered a concussion the week before Tua’s latest injury.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ James Daniels is believed to be the first NFL player to wear a Guardian Cap in a game, doing so during a preseason contest last Friday night. No other players had used the caps in the first three weeks of the preseason.
“At first glance, it was challenging to identify which players were wearing the Guardian Caps; however, upon closer inspection, the straps from the coverings were visible and the helmet appeared larger.”
NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills has touted the benefits of the Guardian Caps, stating that when both players involved in a collision are wearing them, it results in at least a 20% reduction in the severity of the impact.
“Anyone can have a concussion in any helmet with the right blow,” Dr. Sills told The Associated Press. “What we’re always looking at is relative risk reduction. Wearing one of the best-performing helmets definitely lowers a player’s risk of concussion.
The league revealed last week that it saw its fewest concussions in the preseason since tracking began in 2015—a 24% decrease from the previous year. One of the reasons for this positive trend was the increased use of Guardian Caps.
While some players remain hesitant to don the additional headgear, the NFL’s commitment to player safety suggests the Guardian Caps are here to stay. As the regular season approaches, it will be fascinating to see how many more stars follow in the footsteps of Jonathan Taylor and embrace this potentially game-changing technology.
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