Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Michael Oher suffered a concussion in Week 4 of the 2016 NFL season — October 2, to be exact. He’s still in the NFL’s concussion protocol, five and a half months later.
“He looks great, he sounds great, but he’s still in the protocol,” general manager Dave Gettleman said per the team’s website. “He’s working out five days a week. He’s working his fanny off. He’s doing NFL workouts. He’s fully engaged in that weight room.”
Oher was made famous for being the subject of the big-screen movie “The Blind Side,” which is something that has rankled him in the past.
Originally drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, who took him in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft out of Mississippi, Oher spent his first five years in Baltimore before signing a four-year deal in free agency with the Tennessee Titans ahead of the 2014 season. Unfortunately, he suffered a toe injury that ended up landing him on IR and was cut before the 2015 season.
That’s how Oher ended up with the Carolina Panthers for the 2015 season. He anchored the team’s NFC Championship-winning squad as the left tackle protecting Cam Newton’s blind side. And it was partly due to Oher’s better-than-expected play that Newton had his best season as a pro that year.
Unfortunately he once again had an injury setback last year. And the fact he’s still in the NFL’s concussion protocol nearly a half a year later means that Oher must absolutely consider retiring at this point. Brain injuries are becoming more and more understood. And the more scientists uncover about them, the more we realize just how scary they can be (more on that here).
Michael Oher still hopes to come back and play, however, and we wish him good health and safety as he attempts to come back.