Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen took a significant hit late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans, sparking concern among fans and analysts alike. Although Allen returned to the game shortly after the blow, questions have arisen regarding the methods used by the team to get him back on the field so quickly.
Allen, who has been an MVP candidate for the Bills this season, initially explained in his postgame comments that he had twisted his ankle during the play and was therefore able to return promptly. However, sideline footage from the game paints a different picture, showing that smelling salts were administered to the star quarterback before he was reinserted into the game.
The NFL now finds itself under fire for allowing Allen back onto the field under these circumstances, with many questioning whether proper concussion protocols were followed.
Former NFL linebacker turned analyst Emmanuel Acho was among the first to criticize the league’s handling of the situation. “We all saw Josh Allen seemingly get knocked out, yet they just threw him a smelling salt and sent him right back into the game,” Acho wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “As if that was going to undo any head trauma he just suffered.”
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Smelling salts, a combination of ammonia and other chemicals, are commonly used to revive people who have fainted or lost consciousness temporarily. However, their use in sports, particularly after potentially traumatic head injuries, has been a topic of controversy. Many argue that the immediate use of smelling salts can mask more serious issues, such as concussions, and may give players the false sense that they are ready to return to the field.
According to team reports, Allen passed the NFL’s concussion protocols following the hit. Despite this, it was the second straight week that Allen took a significant hit. Just the week before, he was shaken up after a hard collision during the Bills’ game against the Ravens. The sight of Bills staffers using smelling salts on Allen in Week 5 has only amplified concerns about how head injuries are handled in the NFL, particularly when it involves high-profile players like Allen, who are critical to their teams’ success.
The incident in question occurred midway through the fourth quarter, with the Bills trailing the Texans by three points. On a crucial 3rd-and-8 play, Allen took a heavy blow to the head, prompting him to miss one play before returning to the game. With Buffalo chasing a late-game comeback, it’s clear they didn’t want to be without their star quarterback for long.
“They flagged me for hitting my head, but I felt good enough to go back into the game,” Allen said to reporters at NRG Stadium following the Bills’ 27-24 loss. He emphasized that he passed all medical checks before re-entering the contest, though the use of smelling salts left many fans uneasy.
The visual of Allen seemingly being “woken up” on the sideline sparked a flurry of reactions on social media. Many fans expressed concern, questioning whether the competitive nature of the NFL sometimes leads teams to prioritize performance over player safety. “If Josh Allen got rocked that hard and they just gave him smelling salts, that’s a serious problem,” one fan posted. “Player safety should come first.”
The NFL has long been scrutinized for its handling of head injuries and concussions, with many calling for stricter protocols to ensure player safety. While smelling salts aren’t illegal, their use in scenarios where head trauma is suspected can be controversial, particularly in a league that has pledged to make player safety a top priority.
Moving forward, the hope for Bills fans and NFL observers is that Allen, one of the league’s brightest stars, avoids further injuries as the season progresses. However, the handling of his latest incident has reignited a critical discussion about the NFL’s concussion protocols and whether the league is doing enough to protect its players from long-term harm.
For now, Allen appears to have escaped major injury, but the broader concerns about how the league handles potential concussions remain unresolved.
