The NFL recently reported a historic low in preseason concussions for 2024 while also addressing the case of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa, sidelined due to his third documented concussion, is receiving care from top medical experts across the country.

NFL Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills emphasized that while the league enforces concussion protocols, it will not dictate the timeline for Tagovailoa’s return. Decisions regarding his playing future will be left to the medical team and the player himself, highlighting the importance of patient autonomy.

Dr. Sills explained that predicting the risk of future concussions is not straightforward. There is no formula that can factor in variables such as the number of concussions, their frequency, or the player’s age to accurately gauge future risk.

Instead, doctors must evaluate each player’s entire medical history, symptom duration, and the player’s personal situation when advising on the risks of continuing to play. Medical professionals, therefore, offer their best-informed opinions, but those recommendations are based on a combination of scientific and personal factors rather than a fixed formula.

In the 2024 preseason, NFL players experienced 44 concussions, a 25% decrease from the previous year and the lowest since 2015. This drop is credited to several factors, including modifications to practice routines and rule changes. A significant factor has been the use of Guardian Caps, a helmet accessory designed to reduce the force of head impacts. The NFL introduced these caps to protect players in practice, and their mandatory use in recent seasons has contributed to the decline in concussions.

Guardian Caps have proven effective in lowering injury rates during practices, and more players have embraced their use. However, only a small group of players have opted to wear them during games, and there isn’t yet enough data to mandate their use for regular-season matchups. The NFL remains cautious but optimistic about the potential for these caps to reduce in-game head injuries, as further research continues.

In addition to the concussion data, the NFL also reported a 32% decrease in overall injuries during preseason kickoffs, a result of their efforts to redesign the kickoff play. Despite some concussions occurring during kickoffs, the numbers were minimal, and no concussions were reported in the regular season’s first three weeks. This progress reflects the league’s commitment to improving safety in one of the game’s most dangerous plays.