The NFL has taken steps in recent years to better protect defenseless receivers from big hits, but a database of league injuries built by the Observer suggests the league should do more to safeguard defensive backs from concussions as well.
The Observer used data from teams’ final weekly injury reports, official NFL box scores and pro-football-reference.com to build and analyze a spreadsheet of concussions.
The Observer’s analysis showed that both offensive and defensive players in open-field positions were more vulnerable to concussions than linemen.
[OBSERVER DATABASE: Search our database of NFL injuries for the 2016 season]
Among players who missed at least one game during the 2016 regular season while sitting out with a head injury, 22 were players in positions the NFL moved to protect with defenseless-receiver rules.