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Courtney Cronin
LAKE FOREST, Ailing. — Talking publicly for the primary time since a concussion compelled him to overlook 12 video games final season, Chicago Bears security Jaquan Brisker stated he isn’t involved over the chance of reinjury after returning to the follow subject this spring.
“I’ll proceed to play the identical means,” Brisker stated. “That was my first time actually having a contact damage. He hit his head on my neck, so he sort of simply hit his helmet on the proper spot. Actually simply transferring on from that.”
Brisker suffered a concussion after he collided with Panthers tight finish Tommy Tremble on Oct. 6, 2024. Tremble was instantly dominated out with a concussion whereas Brisker was capable of keep within the recreation and log 85% of defensive snaps.
It wasn’t till later that night that Brisker skilled concussion-like signs. After reporting these signs to the workforce the following day, Brisker was positioned into concussion protocol, the place he remained for greater than 4 months.
“To be sincere, my mother requested me each single day: ‘Are you OK? Are you prepared?'” Brisker stated. “I informed her I am about to be enjoying this week. I actually thought I used to be wonderful, to be sincere. I imply, it was only a exhausting course of, a tough factor. Clearly, I needed to be on the market enjoying soccer, however I simply could not. I bodily could not. However each day I informed my mom, I might be enjoying this recreation. Each time I got here right here, I simply could not get previous sure [processes].”
Brisker, 26, has been identified with a concussion in every of his three NFL seasons however didn’t categorical concern concerning the cumulative impact of his head accidents. He stated retirement was not one thing he ever thought of.
“Nope. Not with nobody, particularly not myself,” Brisker stated. “Not with my dad and mom. I really feel like if my dad and mom, you understand, say one thing, it is deep. So, if it did not come from them or come from me, I did not hear it to be sincere.”
Brisker met with a specialist from the College of Pittsburgh, the place he was identified with a vestibular concussion. With dizziness and vertigo a standard symptom, Brisker stated he needed to retrain his nervous system by way of a sequence of workout routines aimed to strengthen his reactionary abilities.
“Similar to side-to-side motion,” Brisker stated. “It is loads of tennis ball catching and issues like that, simply attempting to trace my eyes, get my eyes transferring round, get my physique transferring round, quick and issues like that. Simply reacting.”
Brisker known as the obstacles he confronted in getting again on the sphere a “bump within the highway” on his journey. He didn’t categorical trepidation over what it is going to really feel like when he is ready to make contact with one other participant when the pads come on at coaching camp.
“I wish to hit proper now,” Brisker stated. “So, no, I am not curious. I’ll play at full pace. I’ll be a play maker. Nothing actually modifications, it is simply I am gonna be stronger, I am gonna be much more mentally centered. My thoughts is de facto like in all probability like 5 – 6 years new or regardless of the physician stated. I did a lot work. So I am actually previous it, like I am actually transferring on.”
