The New Orleans Saints announced that third-year wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith would not return to their Week 10 game with the San Francisco 49ers, and that he was entering the NFL concussion protocol.
Smith dropped a pass while hand-fighting with one 49ers defensive back before another opponent, 49ers safety Jimmie Ward, slammed into both of them to break up the pass. Ward’s shoulder collided with Smith’s facemask and he fell to the turf.
It was a scary scene. Smith was initially non-responsive and lay prone as Saints medical trainers attended to him, signaling for a cart to come out. But Smith was able to return to his feet and carefully walked off the field and directly into the Saints locker room.
Additionally, the Saints announced that starting nose tackle Malcom Brown was questionable to return with a calf injury.
