The Ravens' medical staff handled the concussion protocol properly when dealing with quarterback Matt Schaub Sunday in Miami, league spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed.
"I was really proud and impressed with what happened," Head Coach John Harbaugh said Monday. "The protocol was followed to the 'T.'"
Schaub went down hard on his back in the second quarter and his head whipped back into the turf. He yelled out in pain and immediately reached for his head.
Schaub got to his feet without an issue and remained in the game. He threw one pass, a completion of 5 yards, before the Ravens called a timeout.
After the timeout, Schaub stayed in the game and completed another pass before the game was halted again because of the two-minute warning.
Following a second break in the action, Schaub threw his first interception of the game and the drive was over, sending him to the sideline for an extended period of time.
Harbaugh reiterated that the Ravens saw Schaub go down hard, even though it was on the opposite sideline. Harbaugh said Head Athletic Trainer Mark Smith "was right on it, was right out there."
"[Schaub] went into the in-game protocol and passed everything," Harbaugh said. "[He] passed after the game and then passed again this morning. So, that was really good to see that [the concussion protocol] worked the way it's supposed to work."
Schaub said he wasn't too shaken up on the play where his head hit the turf.
"Yes, I got hit and thrown to the ground so I had to adjust a couple things, but I was fine," he said. "Yes, doctors looked at me and came over to do their necessary test. However, everything checked out fine."
The league and teams' handling of concussions has been under the microscope recently after Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger removed himself from a game last week. In Week 11, Rams quarterback Case Keenum remained in a game late against the Ravens, but was later diagnosed with a concussion.
There have been questions about whether the NFL's spotter in the press box should have called a medical timeout to immediately evaluate the players.
Harbaugh said he hasn't thought into it that deeply and it's not his area of expertise.
"To me, you have one [situation] here that worked," Harbaugh said. "We have experts who went out there and went through the process and they're very diligent and very conscious of concussions right now. That's something that everybody is thinking about.
"I know mistakes have been made – I understand that – but I think you trust professionals to do their job and respect the fact that they know what they're doing, and they did a good job on this one. So, we feel good about that."
