McCoy’s status still uncertain

Associated Press

BEREA

Colt McCoy has improved from his concussion. However, his status for this week, the rest of the season — and beyond — remains blurred.

Browns coach Pat Shurmur said Monday that McCoy has not been medically cleared to practice or play. No decision has been made on who will start at quarterback Saturday when Cleveland visits the Baltimore Ravens.

McCoy suffered a concussion on Dec. 8 when he was blasted on an illegal helmet-to-face mask hit by Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison, who was suspended for the Steelers’ game in San Francisco as punishment for the devastating shot.

Seneca Wallace started in McCoy’s place Sunday at Arizona, and the veteran backup had some nice moments while passing for 226 yards and a touchdown in the Browns’ 20-17 overtime loss.

Shurmur said McCoy was “improving and getting better” but avoided any QB controversy — for the moment— by saying it’s too early to know if McCoy will be healthy enough to practice or face the Ravens.

“I’m going to cross that bridge when they’re both healthy,” he said. “Right now, until Colt’s healthy, we’re going to go with Seneca.”

But what if Colt is cleared, will he start?

“If Colt is OK, when Colt’s OK, we’ll talk about that,” Shurmur said, playfully dodging a series of questions on the touchy subject. “How’s that? Good answer?”

It’s the only answer for now, but things could change if McCoy passes his baseline concussion test, is allowed to resume practicing and wants to finish the season.

McCoy’s concussion and the Browns’ handling of his head injury brought the team under intense scrutiny last week. Both the NFL and NFL Players Association sent medical personnel to meet with the team to discuss the treatment of McCoy, who was never given the standard concussion test while he was on the sideline and returned to the game after sitting out just two plays.

The explanation given by Browns President Mike Holmgren for the lack of testing was because McCoy did not display concussion symptoms until after the game, and the team’s medical staff did not see the Harrison hit because trainers and doctors were attending other injured players.

The league and union have discussed changes to their policy on concussions based on McCoy’s case, which exposed some gray areas previously overlooked.

“We are in the process of discussing next steps,” league spokesman Greg Aiello said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

Commissioner Roger Goodell told CBS he has taken part in several conference calls with the Browns “to make sure that our processes will protect from that happening again and anything else where a player is injured and should get proper care.”

“One of the things that we want to do is make sure someone, a medical professional, has his eyes on the field at all times and can see when an injury occurs to somebody so the proper medical care is being given,” Goodell said.

The NFLPA has not filed a grievance against the Browns.

The Browns have been rocked by concussions, with wide receiver Jordan Norwood and backup linebacker Ben Jacobs the latest to go down with head injuries sustained Sunday. Cleveland has had at least 11 reported concussions this season. Starting tight end Benjamin Watson was placed on injured reserve last week after suffering his third concussion since July.