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NFL players wear rugby-style scrum caps for first time

Several NFL players wore helmets with extra padding, called ‘Guardian Caps’, in games for the first time on Sunday in the latest move by the league to safeguard against future concussions.

The caps have been a regular feature in practices for NFL teams since 2022 and were worn by some players in pre-season. Now a small number of players have now elected to wear the modified helmets in games, after the NFL signed off on the move back in April.

The caps attach to the top of the helmet, providing an extra layer of padding with a soft shell which absorbs the initial contact.