Austin Collie remains quiet about his concussion
Indianapolis Colt Austin Collie just wants to put the past behind him. According to a recent report released by The Associated Press, the wide receiver has opted not to talk about the concussion-inducing hit that he suffered back on 7 November, focusing
instead on his recovery.
“I understand everyone’s concern, but I prefer not to discuss the specifics of the play in Philadelphia. I hope that can be respected,” Collie said in a written statement. “It was a football play. And that’s part of football. Now I want to focus my efforts
on continuing the gradual process of getting back on the field and helping our team.”
The receiver’s injury occurred nearly two weeks ago, during a 26-24 loss at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles. In the game’s second quarter, Collie was hit by Philly defensive backs Kurt Coleman and Quintin Mikell, causing him to drop a Peyton Manning pass
attempt. Collie, who is playing in his second season out of Brigham Young, then remained motionless on the ground for several minutes before he was taken off the field on a stretcher.
Collie has yet to address the media since the incident.
Although the Eagles received a 15-yard penalty on the play, the collision has not yet been assessed a fine by the NFL. The league has been cracking down on unnecessary helmet-to-helmet contact as of 17 October, and has since been doling out hefty fines to perpetrators
around the league. Bill Polian, meanwhile, saw nothing wrong with or intentionally malicious about the play, which he asserts should not be fined.
“My personal feeling is that the rules we have established would go a long way to protecting players and helping the problem,” the Colts team president said during his weekly radio show. “But in the end we still have a hard plastic helmet hitting another hard
plastic helmet at speeds up to 40 mph.”
After missing three workouts and a game last week, the receiver participated in his first full practice since the injury on Thursday 18 November, and could be ready to play as early as Sunday 21 November, when the Colts travel to New England.
“Every day I feel like I am improving, and it was great to get back on the field in some capacity Wednesday,” Collie said. “The doctors and training staff here have been tremendous. I can’t say that enough.”
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