Was Brock Purdy concussed by Jordan Hicks hit?
For the second week in a row, Vikings linebacker Jordan Hicks' tackling of an opposing quarterback is being called into question.
Late in the Vikings' 22-17 win over the 49ers, San Francisco attempted a QB sneak on third-and-one and Brock Purdy was stuffed at the line by Hicks and D.J. Wonnum. Hicks' hit on Purdy was a diving shot over the line that saw the two players' helmets collide, with Purdy's head snapping back. Two plays later Purdy threw the first of two fourth quarter interceptions.
Purdy was placed in concussion protocol by the 49ers Wednesday, meaning he might not play in San Francisco's game against the Bengals Sunday. Seeing the replay on ESPN's Manningcast, Peyton Manning reacted, "Ah, nice shot to the neck."
Before the Hicks hit, Purdy was incredibly accurate, throwing 19-of-24 for 252 yards and one touchdown with a 124.3 passer rating. In his six throws after the hit, Purdy was just 2-of-6 for 20 yards and two interceptions, though one of those incompletions was a spike to stop the clock.
In the Vikings’ win over the Bears in Week 6, Bears fans criticized Hicks for a lunging helmet-to-helmet hit on Bears QB Justin Fields.