Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles explains handling of TE Cameron Brate's concussion

TAMPA, Fla. — The Buccaneers' handling of tight end Cameron Brate's concussion against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday night raised some eyebrows, but head coach Todd Bowles said Monday that the team initially believed Brate injured his shoulder and did not show concussion symptoms until halftime, which is why he remained in the game.

In the second quarter, with 1:35 to go, Brate's head collided with teammate Chris Godwin's shoulder as he was coming across the field. Brate flung backwards onto the ground, drawing a collective gasp from the crowd.

«He went on the sideline. He complained of shoulder discomfort, nothing about his head,» Bowles said Monday. «He was checked out three times. You just say, 'Give him a minute.' Nothing came up. He went back in until the end of the half. At halftime, he started having symptoms, but they were delayed. He started complaining about that. We tested him, he's in the protocol, and we kept him out the rest of the game.»

Brate laid on the field for a few seconds, appearing dazed, and was slow to get up. Offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs put his arm around him. Then as he jogged off the field before the very next play, Brate ran into an official. It is unclear what caused him to run into the official — the fact that he was trying to get off the field quickly or that he was disoriented, and Brate was not available after the game to answer questions about it as players with concussions are not permitted to speak to the media.

After he went to the sideline, Brate did not go into the medical tent to be examined and was back on the field for that same series. He suffered no obvious additional blows to the head after that play, but was ruled out with a concussion in the third quarter.

When asked why