Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford suffered a concussion after a nasty collision with teammate Damar Hamlin.
Benford was escorted off the pitch during the Buffalo Bills vs Kansas City Chiefs NFL game on Sunday, ultimately ending with the Bills losing 29-32. Per a report by APNews, Benford was pursuing Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy before the impact.
A video posted on social media by @Rate_the_Refs shows what happened. Benford is holding two players at bay while Hamlin charges in from the side. Hamlin tackles as Benford leans forward, and it appears as though the top of Benford's helmet takes most of the impact. Benford falls to the ground after the collision, bracing with his arms before he hits the pitch.
APNews explains that Benford was shaky on his feet and tried to return to the field. He was abruptly stopped by teammate Rasul Douglas, who insisted he get checked before returning to the game. Medical staff deemed Benford unfit to return, and officials escorted him off the field in a cart.
As reported by the New York Post, Benford's injury on the weekend comes barely a week after a previous concussion. The outlet reports that the cornerback sustained the injury near the end of the Bills vs. Ravens game on January 19, where the Bills won 27-25. The outlet also explains that questions have since emerged about why he was even playing in the first place.
APNews explains that Benford 'cleared the concussion protocol' before the game on Sunday. The concussion protocol is a set of guidelines that ensures a player is ready to return to the field after a head injury. Naturally, social media is ablaze with speculation, and many note that Benford didn't look well when he left in the cart.
Chris Nowinski, a retired pro wrestler and co-founder of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, tweeted:
"Christian Benford was cleared from concussion protocol 3 hours before the game after only one week off. This seemingly modest hit forced him off on a cart. When this impacts his career earnings, who will make him whole? They failed him."
Another user, @CriticalHippo99, said, "I hated this. I was sick feeling watching him on that golf card leaving. Not good..."
@Ralphstrangis brings up a good point that players are hungry to get on the field, saying, "Players wanna play. That's why it's so incumbent on team doctors, the coach, the organization, the league - to have his back. Appears that nobody did."
