NFL medical adviser: Week 1 concussions not a trend

The co-chairman of the NFL's Brain, Head and Neck Medical Committee said he doesn't see five concussions suffered by players on the first Sunday of the regular season as a trend.

But Dr. Hunt Batjer said the league and its medical staff will monitor concussions closely. He added, "If this pace continues, it's either better reporting of the symptoms, or it is something else systemic."

Batjer said the injuries were treated properly in Philadelphia and at New Meadowlands Stadium, according to the guidelines set by commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL Players Association. There were three concussions in the Panthers-Giants game and two in Packers-Eagles.

Eagles linebacker Stewart Bradley and quarterback Kevin Kolb were diagnosed with concussions after each briefly returned to play. Giants tight end Kevin Boss and two Panthers, quarterback Matt Moore and receiver Charly Martin, also suffered concussions.

Goodell sent a memo to the 32 teams last year saying a player who suffers a concussion should not return to action on the same day if he shows certain symptoms. Anyone watching Bradley stagger to his feet and crash to the ground probably would have considered him disoriented.

"We didn't just stick [Bradley and Kolb] out there without having followed the protocol,'' Eagles coach Andy Reid said yesterday. "When [Bradley] came off that initial time, he was fine.''

Kolb and Bradley will be evaluated Wednesday and will see an independent specialist, as required by the NFL, on Friday.

Injury report

Lions coach Jim Schwartz said quarterback Matthew Stafford's injured right shoulder won't need surgery, and that there's no timetable on his return . . . The Eagles lost fullback Leonard Weaver (knee) and center Jamaal Jackson (triceps) for the season . . . Packers defensive lineman Justin Harrell (knee) is out for the season, and running back Ryan Grant (ankle) will miss at least one game.