25 September 2023 , 02:28
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Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore forced quarterback Justin Fields off the field after he attempted to continue playing despite taking a big hit.
With 14:16 left in the game, the Chiefs were leading by a large margin of 41-3. Fields attempted to run toward the end zone from the three-yard line of Kansas City.
During the play, he was struck in the helmet by linebacker Willie Gay, causing a fumble. Fields' head also seemed to make forceful contact with the ground when the play ended.
Getting to his feet, Fields attempted to return to the game but looked unsteady, staggering back to the huddle seemingly on auto-pilot. Moore took it upon himself to alert the staff on the field's sideline to remove Fields from the game to ensure medical professionals could examine him.
The NFL referee approached Fields near the hash mark and promptly blew his whistle, resulting in Fields being escorted off the field. Despite the injury concerns, the quarterback managed to walk off the field, a positive sign indicating his resilience following the play.
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Despite the hit and injury concerns, the Bears allowed Fields to complete the game. He connected with Moore on a nine-yard pass with 4:20 remaining in the game, showing his determination to continue despite the earlier incident and his teammate's concerns.
The Bears experienced an added layer of embarrassment due to their lack of cohesion between the offense, defense, and special teams throughout the game. This was heightened by their substantial loss in front of multiplatinum recording artist and songwriter Taylor Swift.
Justin Fields tries to play through a big hit against the Chiefs
DJ Moore stops Justin Fields from continuing play after taking a big hit (twitter)The iconic pop star was in attendance, seated next to the mother of Travis Kelce, the tight end with whom she has been rumored to be in a relationship. The Bears lost the game 41-10.
In 2018, the NFL improved its concussion protocol to enhance its procedures. As per the policy, the NFL and NFLPA each designated a representative to oversee the protocol's implementation and investigate potential violations.
The investigations were not focused on making medical judgments but rather on verifying the adherence to established protocols. Upon completion, the NFL and NFLPA jointly examined the results with the aim of identifying any possible violations.
Justin Fields of the Chicago Bears is hit after scrambling against the Kansas City ChiefsIn the event of any such findings, corresponding disciplinary measures were suggested. In cases where there was a disagreement, an impartial third-party arbitrator was appointed to provide a resolution. Following a comprehensive assessment, the arbitrator submitted a report to the Commissioner, NFLPA Executive Director, and all involved parties.
As mutually agreed upon by the NFL and NFLPA, the Commissioner had retained absolute discretion in determining penalties for violations of the concussion protocol. This enforcement policy was one of several collaborative efforts between the NFL and NFLPA to enhance player health and safety.