Cameron Brate Was Allowed Back in the Game With a Concussion on Sunday Night Football [Update]
Cameron Brate, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end, suffered a concussion late in the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. Somehow, Brate was allowed back in the game after taking a big hit and wasn't ruled out until the second half. Yes, Brate was examined by medical professionals and allowed to return to the game. Yes, this happened after the Tua Tagovailoa disaster.
UPDATE: Here's video of the initial collision as well as the sideline report explaining what happened.
1. It’s obvious that Cameron Brate is Tom’s new Gronk…
— Barstool Fan (Brendan’s Fantasy Team Enjoyer) (@StoolieAccount) October 3, 2022
2. If it’s so easy for the audience to see and discuss, why is it the people in the tent just can’t see it?!@NFL @NFLPA fix your shit. pic.twitter.com/Y0wK3Ckfe8
People watching the game thought it was weird at the time as Brate appeared disoriented after hitting his head.
Cameron Brate is back in? Just like that?
— Daren Stoltzfus WESH (@DarenStoltzfus) October 3, 2022
They didn't even have to test him for a concussion? Dude was WOOZY getting up after that hit.
So Bucs TE Cameron Brate slams his head, comes off the field, goes back into the game and THEN is ruled out with a concussion? What is going on man, it’s not rocket science
— Angelina Martin (@angewrites) October 3, 2022
Brady's pass just out of reach of Cameron Brate, who is back on the field after being checked by the training staff. #KCvsTB
— PewterReport (@PewterReport) October 3, 2022
How does the NFL screw up another concussion situation right after the Tua mess?
— Mark Anderson (@markanderson65) October 3, 2022
When it was announced coming out of halftime that Brate was in the concussion protocol, Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth had to try to explain what happened, which was basically that the process had again failed a player.
Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth are spot-on about Cameron Brate. They could tell in the broadcast booth. We could tell watching on TV. The "eye in the sky" at the stadium had to be able to tell something was up. No reason he should've been able to go back into the game.
— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) October 3, 2022
The unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant who examined Tagovailoa was dismissed on Saturday. Don't be surprised something similar happens after the Brate situation. The NFL has now had this happen in two of three primetime games during week 4.