Guidelines Keep Gross out of Commission

When Carolina left tackle Jordan Gross was knocked down in Sunday’s game against Atlanta, he suffered a concussion as Falcons linebacker Michael Boley accidentally kneed him in the head in the midst of the chaotic play. Out cold laying face down for a matter of minutes, Gross eventually came to and rolled onto his back, waving to the crowd as he was carted off the field. The veteran seemed to be recovering quickly, talking to teammates at halftime, but will precautionary measures leave Gross watching from the sidelines for next week’s important Tampa Bay game?

According to the American Academy of Neurology’s parameters in dealing with concussions, an injury as the one that Gross suffered, in which he lost consciousness for a matter of minutes, is considered a Grade 3 concussion, which is the highest level measured. The standard procedure for this type of injury involves a two-week waiting period for recovery, indicating the Panthers’ favorite left tackle will miss this upcoming week’s game. While it is relatively common for NFL players to get concussions during playing time, just 61 players have lost consciousness from taking a hit in a six-year period (1996 to 2001), placing Gross in a rare but serious condition.

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