Chicago Bears: Leonard Floyd’s concussion aftermath raises questions about future
Leonard Floyd’s admissions about his concussion issues last season put things in perspective as the Chicago Bears prep for a new season.
Coming into this Chicago Bears season, all eyes are focusing on the development of rising sophomore outside linebacker Leonard Floyd. Thought of by many as arguably the key to the Bears defensive success this year and beyond, Floyd’s progression on the field will be a recurring headline both in training camp and throughout the 2016-2017 season.
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But earlier this week, Floyd brought attention to himself for a different reason—one that isn’t likely to encourage Bears fans. No, he didn’t get into trouble with the law. He isn’t battling injuries. And, thank goodness, he hasn’t used any PEDs yet.
But he did open up about his struggles to bounce back from a concussion he sustained last year that kept him out for three games. And the grim story he told raises a lot of questions and concerns about his long-term health and safety.
What Happened?
Floyd suffered two concussions last season, both from inadvertent collisions with teammate Akiem Hicks while trying to make a tackle. Both times, Floyd got the worst of the impact, forcing him from a November 20 game against the New York Giants and the Christmas Eve blowout loss to Washington.
The second impact, in particular, is the one that prompted Floyd to speak up at Halas Hall this week. Apparently, his concussion symptoms then were so severe that he found himself “in a fog” for nearly two months. Via Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times:
"“You just don’t feel normal,” Floyd said after mandatory minicamp practice Wednesday. “You know, it’s this thinking part, like you don’t think the same. I wasn’t thinking like I normally would think. And then I’d be staring off in space sometimes instead of paying attention. It took me two months to really feel like I was back to myself…I was just at the house, relaxing, getting my mind back together. After those two months, I felt back.”"
Why It Matters
While we should all be thankful for Floyd’s health—he appears to be 100% again—these words are still terrifying. Even though the Bears handled this carefully, there are several reasons to worry about Floyd’s future as a football player.
First off, second-impact syndrome (SIS) is not only a real issue but likely directly affected Floyd in this case. While he passed the concussion protocol after his initial trauma, the short amount of time between his first and second concussions may have caused the adverse effects he experienced. In such a case, the brain can swell rapidly—sometimes with fatal results—if not given enough time to heal.
And that contributes to the fear factor. Neither the Bears nor Floyd could’ve foreseen that he’d have a second concussion so quickly. What could they have done to preemptively stop it from occurring?
Plus, by now, we’ve already seen that someone doesn’t need to be concussed for adverse effects to arise. The recent avalanche of evidence linking continuous sub-concussive impacts linked to the onset of chronic traumatic encephalitis (CTE) has forced the people to evolve their views on head injuries in football. Gone are the days of simply being expected to play through “getting your bell rung.” By this point, we’ve seen enough players suffering from the aftermath of head injuries to brush it off.
What the Future Holds
So where does that leave Leonard Floyd? He’s healthy now and primed, hopefully, for a breakout season. Also, he and the coaching staff will surely work to eliminate the tackling issues that led to last year’s injuries. For now, everything looks perfectly fine.
But what happens when he plays again for real? As mentioned before, his concussion history makes him susceptible to repeat occurrences. And it might not even take something as jarring as a collision with Hicks to bring him down next time, even if he cleans up his technique.
Obviously, one can’t just assume Floyd will absolutely have another concussion. And if you’re Floyd, you can’t play with any fear of what could happen. But right now, as a concerned fan, it’s natural to worry that the two concussions he suffered last year (in a five-week span, no less) won’t be his last. And if he does battle this issue frequently early on, might it rob him of the long productive football career we all hope for from him?
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Here’s hoping that’s not the case, as this talented young man has a lot of success ahead of him. But he also has a lot of life ahead to live. Whatever his football career ends up being, here’s also wishing it’s a long and healthy one. If he were to decide down the road to walk away from football earlier than intended to preserve his future, so be it. In the end, it’s just a game.