EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Cleveland rookie wide receiver KC Concepcion suffered a concussion late in the first quarter of the Browns' 17-12 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from Minkah Fitzpatrick.
The Browns were driving on their second possession and facing first-and-10 from the Jets 25 when Deshaun Watson threw a deep pass to Concepcion. The first-round draft pick appeared to make a catch — just as Fitzpatrick
put a crushing hit on the receiver, making contact with his helmet and causing the ball to drop out of his hands.
Concepcion immediately went face down on the turf and appeared to be unconscious, not moving as the Browns' training staff rushed out to him.
Several Browns teammates and Jets defensive players — including Fitzpatrick — stood near Concepcion as he was being looked at on the field.
After a few minutes, Concepcion was turned over and he eventually sat up, stood and walked under his own power to the locker room. The Browns ruled him out for the game a few minutes later.
“I saw him after the game. He was in good spirits,” Browns coach Todd Monken said. “I don’t know exactly what the rules are, but he did miss the game. I would assume he is in concussion protocol.”
Fitzpatrick was penalized for a hit on a defenseless receiver, the second call on the veteran safety on the drive. He drew a face-mask penalty a few plays earlier while dragging Concepcion out of bounds and pulling off his helmet and sending it flying in the process.
“It’s just a bang bang play,” Monken said. “Minkah’s been in this league a long time and he’s not a dirty player. Unfortunately, it happened to our guy. Not having KC is a part of it, but everybody’s missing players.”
Concepcion was the 24th overall pick out of Texas A&M in April. He had a 5-yard catch before the injury. Concepcion has 18 receptions for 149 yards in five games.
“I saw him afterward and he’s doing well,” Watson said. “He definitely was a big part of the game plan.”
The Browns also lost running back Raheim Sanders (hip) and right tackle Tytus Howard (knee) in the fourth quarter.
Jets rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq was ruled out early in the fourth quarter with a concussion, and coach Aaron Glenn said he's in the protocol.
The first-round pick caught a 6-yard pass from Geno Smith in the third quarter when Quincy Williams slammed into him and forced a fumble that Ronnie Hickman recovered at the Cleveland 7. Sadiq stayed down for a moment before getting up and heading to the sideline to be evaluated for a head injury.
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