Latest news with #GuardianCap
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Packers WR Romeo Doubs is in a great place entering Year 4
Made 55 yards in the air look easy@emplifybellin Another standout summer for Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs reached a new level this week with impressive practices on back-to-back days. On Tuesday, Doubs beat safeties Javon Bullard and Evans Williams for a long touchdown during 11-on-11. Doubs, whose longest career catch is 39 yards, showed off his speed to get behind the defense and make an impressive grab without breaking his stride. Since being drafted by Green Bay in 2022, Doubs has shown improvement each year, but Matt LaFleur said before Wednesday's practice that the area where Doubs has made his biggest strides has been in his route running. "I think patience as a route runner, he's doing a great job," LaFleur said. "He's always been able to get off the line, but just in terms of the patience of a route runner, and it was on display (Tuesday) when that ball's in the air. He's going to attack that football." After LaFleur's remarks, Doubs went out and had another productive practice on Wednesday, boosted by a touchdown against Carrington Valentine during a red zone period. Doubs has become known for his strong training camps and consistency during the regular season. However, last season took an unexpected turn when he was suspended one game for skipping multiple practices. Doubs was reportedly unhappy with his role on offense, but he would eventually return to the team and finish the year with career-high marks in yards per reception and yards per game. 2024 likely would have been a career year for Doubs if not for the suspension and injuries. He also missed Weeks 13 and 14 due to a concussion and the regular season finale against the Bears because of an illness. Doubs finished the year wearing a Guardian Cap only to suffer another concussion after slamming his head against the ground in the Wild Card Round loss to the Eagles. Perhaps due to previous discontent and the fact that he was entering the last year of his rookie deal, Doubs' name was mentioned as a potential trade candidate during the offseason, but nothing ever materialized. Perhaps no one is happier that Doubs is still around than Jordan Love. The two have made it a habit to work out together in California during the offseason, and that chemistry has once again carried over into camp, with Love gushing over Doubs' approach going into Year 4. "I just love where he's at mentally right now," said Love. "He's playing pretty lights out right now and making a lot of good plays when the ball's in the air, which is one of those things that's expected from Rome, and he's done that so many times. But the headspace he's at, attacking every day trying to find ways to get better, even when we're not on the same page sometimes, and a play might be incomplete, we're talking after and trying to figure out how we might do things differently, so I love where he's at right now." It would not be surprising to anyone in the building if Doubs takes another step in his development this season. He may have the strongest connection with Love among all of Green Bay's receivers and continues to improve in all facets of his game. "The way he's running routes and understanding what the coverage is and how he needs to beat it, and just do the little things with twitchiness of his body when he gets to the top of routes and just understanding how to run routes is what's really separating him," Love said. The Packers will be counting on Doubs this season. If the 25-year-old former fourth-round pick takes another step in his development this year, the team will have to decide whether to pay Doubs a sizable contract or risk losing one of their most trusted receivers.
New York Times
11-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
NFL updates helmet rules to add more ‘Guardian Cap optional' models, ban 7 others
As part of its annual equipment safety review, the NFL has once again updated its rules for which helmets meet its safety standards and which ones are no longer legal. The updates, announced Friday, are based on 'head impact severity' reviews conducted with input from the NFL Players Association. Among the notable changes this year is the number of helmets now designated as 'Guardian Cap optional,' meaning they perform well enough that the league will not require players with those helmets to wear one of the soft-shelled caps during training camp or practices. Advertisement The NFL has touted Guardian Caps as a significant tool to reduce concussions and other head injuries since their limited introduction in 2022. In 2024, the league made the caps mandatory during practices for every position except quarterbacks, kickers and punters. Last season was also the first year players could wear their Guardian Caps during games. According to the league, NFL players sustained 17 percent fewer concussions in 2024 compared to the 2023 season. There's no definitive metric for how much the expanded use of Guardian Caps contributed to that drop. The league announced that 10 helmets are 'Guardian Cap optional' now. Included in that category is the Riddell Axiom 3D, which topped the safety performance list this year and in 2024. Meanwhile, seven additional helmets are now prohibited altogether. They are: Players can still choose to wear one of three models — the Schutt F7 UR1 2.0 2024, Schutt F7 2.0 and Riddell SpeedFlex — included in this year's 'Not Recommended' category. However, the league said its testing found those helmets 'have a nearly 30 percent higher concussion rate on-field than the highest-ranking helmets.' Some of the models that are 'Not Recommended' are helmets with newer versions that do meet the 'Top-Performing' criteria, such as the Schutt F7 Pro and two updated forms of the Riddell SpeedFlex. Quarterbacks and linemen on both sides of the ball have received specific helmet recommendations for the last two seasons, alongside the general list for all players. Nearly a third of players in those positions wore a position-specific helmet last season, according to the NFL. The NFL said two new models that met the highest safety standards, the LIGHT Gladiator (ATK) and Xenith Orbit Pro, were developed by companies that participated in the NFL Helmet Challenge. The competition offers companies $3 million to create products that improve player safety. Beyond the professional level, Virginia Tech also releases helmet safety recommendations for high school and youth athletes in a variety of sports. The university says its ratings are made without any contributions from helmet manufacturers.
USA Today
25-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Packers provide encouraging injury updates on WRs Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed
The Green Bay Packers have no long-term concerns on the injury situations of wide receivers Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed coming out of the team's playoff loss to end the 2024 season, according to general manager Brian Gutekunst. Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Gutekunst provided encouraging updates on Doubs, who suffered a second concussion, and Reed, who injured his shoulder. Both went out during the Packers' loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Round in January. Per Mike Spofford of Gutekunst has no long-term concerns on Doubs despite the repeated head injuries, and Reed might be limited during the offseason workout program but should be ready for the start of training camp. Doubs suffered his first concussion of the 2024 season during the second half of the Packers' win over the San Francisco 49ers on Nov. 24. He missed the next two games before passing protocol and returning. Less than two months later, Doubs — who was wearing a Guardian Cap — suffered a second concussion in Philadelphia. Both times, Doubs was attempting to catch a pass in the end zone when the brain injury occurred. Reed was injured after a catch in the second half of the Packers' loss in Philadelphia. He believed he would avoid surgery on the injury following the January loss. Doubs will be entering a contract year in 2025. Reed will be going into Year 3 in the NFL with a chance to build on his first career 1,000-yard season and become a premier pass-catcher. Gutekunst also confirmed the Packers are expecting to be without Christian Watson for at least part of the 2025 season. Watson suffered a significant knee injury in the season finale against the Chicago Bears and will likely start the 2025 season on the physically unable to perform list. The Packers will need both Doubs and Reed healthy for the 2025 season to help ease the pain of not having Watson for a good chunk of the year.
Reuters
05-02-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
League heralds helmet technology for reduction in concussion cases
NEW ORLEANS, Feb 5 (Reuters) - The NFL credited a drop in the number of concussion cases this season with advances in helmet technology but players said it could take time to convince all those on the gridiron to reach for the new gear. Concussions fell to a record low this season, down 17% from the previous campaign, amid improvements to helmet technology and after the league changed rules governing kickoffs. The league also allowed the use of helmet coverings known as Guardian Caps during regular-season games, after expanding their use in practice in 2023. "One of the most significant changes this year was the adoption of the players wearing the best helmets," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl. "We had 370 players that went into the most recent developments with helmets and I think that's showing and the Guardian Cap is an addition to that, for those who may not be making the adjustment to the best helmet." Convincing players to wear the top-rated helmets has been a challenge considering there are multiple options available, including five that were approved for use but moved to the "not recommended" category this season. "We want to get everything data driven but there's still an aspect of feel for a player who's been playing this game for so long," said NFL Players Association President Jalen Reeves-Maybin, a linebacker for the Detroit Lions. "Change is hard for some guys." The league and the players union adopted enhanced concussion protocols in 2022, after the NFL came under fire for its response to a concussion suffered by Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was carried off the field on a stretcher in a now-infamous incident. Tagovailoa suffered another concussion this season but said he would not use the Guardian Cap, calling it a "personal choice" as he reportedly wears a VICIS ZERO2 MATRIX ID QB helmet that the league classifies a "Guardian Cap optional". Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler echoed some players' complaints about the Guardian Cap, a soft-shell covering worn over helmets, saying that it impacts his balance. "The Guardian Cap feels heavy on my head," he told reporters at Wednesday's NFLPA press conference. "I love that it's - right now - it's an option. You can use it if you like. I actually had two concussions this last year. I still feel like the equipment that I was wearing was still sufficient enough." NFLPA Executive Director Lloyd Howell said he hopes the union can become an "ombudsman" on the issue, getting "upstream with these discussions." Philadelphia Eagles guard Tyler Steen was among the players who said he was open to more restrictions on helmets, even as he shared frustrations with the fit and feel of the Guardian Cap. "I feel like it's definitely doing something that's preventing more concussions and more injuries then yeah, for sure," he told Reuters ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bills cornerback Christian Benford ruled out of AFC title game vs. Chiefs with a concussion
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford was ruled out of the AFC title game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night with a concussion. Benford was carted from the field after a helmet-to-helmet hit with teammate Damar Hamlin while trying to make a tackle in the first quarter. Benford, who spent the week in the concussion protocol before getting cleared in time for the game, was ruled out just moments after he was driven up the tunnel in the corner of Arrowhead Stadium. Benford was chasing Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy near the Bills sideline when he clashed helmets with Hamlin, who wears a Guardian Cap on his own. Benford was shaky while standing up and tried to return to the field, but Bills cornerback Rasul Douglas stopped him in his tracks and made sure Buffalo trainers checked on him. The loss was a big one for Buffalo, which was counting on Benford to help cover the Chiefs' fleet of wide receivers. He made a nice play earlier in the game to break up a pass deep downfield intended for Marquise Brown. The Bills already were thin in the secondary without safety Taylor Rapp, who was inactive with back and hip injuries. He would have played a significant role in covering Chiefs tight ends Travis Kelce and Noah Gray. ___ AP NFL: Dave Skretta, The Associated Press
