Run, Jaxson, Run: Empirical studies from NFL concussion lawsuit re: Whether concussions hit "pocket passers" more than QB's who run from the pocket?

 

Interesting responses, especially the one re: Mechanism of Injury (from Q1) since that sounds exactly how Dart was concussed versus the Bears.   

•         From Q2: Independent analyses suggest that while mobile quarterbacks might be more prone to certain lower-body injuries, pocket passers may suffer more concussions, rib injuries, and arm/shoulder injuries.

 Also, this from Q3 since it is the type of usage of Darts "special" talents (what makes him great) that got Daboll fired. 

• Scrambles (quarterback runs that were not designed): The injury rate is lower than sacks, at approximately 0.87% per play.
• Designed Runs (quarterback runs): The injury rate is even lower than scrambles, at approximately 0.64% per play.
• Passing plays that don't end in a scramble, sack, or spike: This baseline rate (including incompletions and throwaways) is the lowest, at approximately 0.28%. 

The kid is James Dean personified, in pads and helmet. Instead of making him into  something he is not, like Daniel Jones, Get him a better offensive line and running backs. He will settle into a pure pocket passer, which he is not, at least not yet.Stop hectoring him and start protecting him. 

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Question(s) to Google AI - Q1: Has there been any empirical studies from NFL concussion lawsuit determining whether concussions hit "pocket passers" more than those who run from the pocket.

There is no conclusive empirical evidence from studies related to the NFL concussion lawsuit or other major NFL research that determines whether "pocket passers" sustain more concussions than those who run from the pocket. 

While some general studies have analyzed concussion rates by position or offensive scheme, they do not specifically compare concussion incidence between different styles of quarterbacks (e.g., mobile vs. stationary). 

Key Findings from NFL Concussion Research:

• Position Data: Quarterbacks generally have a lower concussion rate per game played or per play compared to other skill positions like running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends.
• Offensive Scheme: One study found that teams running the "West Coast offense" (which involves more passing plays) had higher overall offensive concussion rates than teams using other schemes, but this did not break down risk by quarterback mobility.
• Mechanism of Injury: Joint research by the NFL and NFLPA (Players Association) found that half of all quarterback concussions occur when their helmets hit the ground, indicating that how they fall is a significant factor, regardless of whether they are in the pocket or running.
• Lack of Specific Data: The general consensus in available research is that there is not enough specific, publicly available data distinguishing between different quarterback playing styles to draw a statistically meaningful conclusion on their relative injury risks. Injury rates in the NFL are also volatile and affected by many factors, including player awareness, better detection methods, and stricter reporting rules.

Q2: Research using publicly available data outside of the lawsuit has explored related questions:

• Passing plays in general have been found to have a significantly higher risk of in-game injuries, especially concussions, compared to running plays. Quarterbacks, wide receivers, and defensive backs contribute most to this increased risk.
• Some independent analyses suggest that while mobile quarterbacks might be more prone to certain lower-body injuries, pocket passers may suffer more concussions, rib injuries, and arm/shoulder injuries.
• One study found that "passing that doesn't end in a scramble or a spike" has a lower injury rate per play than designed runs, scrambles, sacks, or knockdowns. Sacks and knockdowns, which are more common for pocket passers, have the highest injury rates per play, but scrambles have a lower rate than sacks.
• In terms of sheer number of concussions by position, quarterbacks generally have a lower total number compared to positions like tight ends or defensive backs, but the risk per play (exposure) can be high. 

Ultimately, the specific, play-style-based comparison you are asking for using official data from the lawsuit is not publicly available. Independent studies show that the type of play (pass vs. run) and the outcome of the play (sack vs. scramble) significantly affect concussion risk. 

Q3: Independent studies show that the type of play (pass vs. run) and the outcome of the play (sack vs. scramble) significantly affect concussion risk. Can you provide more detail on this?

Independent studies using NFL injury data have provided detailed statistics on how different play types and outcomes affect the risk of injury, particularly concussions. The central finding is that passing plays in general confer a greater overall injury risk than running plays, but the highest risk comes from specific outcomes of passing plays, namely sacks and knockdowns. 

Here are the specific details from independent research:

Injury Rates by Play Type and Outcome

One detailed analysis of NFL data from 2016 to 2020 provided a breakdown of injury rates per play based on the specific outcome: 

• Sacks: The injury rate is approximately 1.4% per play.
• Knockdowns: The injury rate is the highest at approximately 1.56% per play. It is assumed these often happen in the pocket.
• Scrambles (quarterback runs that were not designed): The injury rate is lower than sacks, at approximately 0.87% per play.
• Designed Runs (quarterback runs): The injury rate is even lower than scrambles, at approximately 0.64% per play.
• Passing plays that don't end in a scramble, sack, or spike: This baseline rate (including incompletions and throwaways) is the lowest, at approximately 0.28%. 

Key Takeaways

• Sacks and knockdowns present the most immediate danger in terms of injury likelihood per snap. These outcomes are much more common for traditional "pocket passers" who remain in a vulnerable position longer.
• Running (both designed runs and scrambles), while still carrying some risk, is statistically safer per play for the quarterback than being sacked or knocked down in the pocket.
• Passing plays in general lead to a higher incidence of concussions and core/trunk injuries for the offensive players involved compared to running plays, which affects not only the QB but also receivers and tight ends.
• One study found that teams running the West Coast offense (historically known for more passing attempts) had a significantly greater risk of concussions for offensive players compared to other schemes like the Air Coryell offense. 

In summary, while mobile quarterbacks might have more opportunities to be hit outside the pocket, the nature of the hits (being sacked or knocked down) associated with traditional passing plays carries a substantially higher injury rate per instance than running plays or scrambles. 

Resources Cited:

Grokopedia https://grokipedia.com/page/Quarterback#controversies-and-critical-debates

Fantasy Points  https://www.fantasypoints.com/nfl/articles/2025/statistically-significant-scrambles-and-qb-runs#/

 Academic Citations

 "Style of Play and Rate of Concussions in the National Football League"

Citation: Seshadri, D. R., Thom, M. C., Kim, J. S., Steele, R. W., Fiore, K. F., & Freehill, M. T. (2015). Style of play and rate of concussions in the National Football League. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 3(12), 2325967115620412.

 Relevance: This study directly links the high number of passing plays in a West Coast offense to a significantly greater risk of concussions for offensive players compared to the Air Coryell offense.

 "Effect of Passing Plays on Injury Rates in the National Football League"

Citation: Thom, M. C., Smith, K., Steele, R. W., Kim, J. S., & Seshadri, D. R. (2021). Effect of passing plays on injury rates in the National Football League. The Physician and Sportsmedicine, 49(4), 431-436.

 Relevance: This research found that passing plays confer a significantly higher risk of in-game injuries, especially concussions (OR 1.7), than running plays. It highlights quarterbacks, wide receivers, and defensive backs as the most affected positions.

 "Epidemiology of Concussion in the National Football League, 2015-2019"

Citation: Buckman, J. S., Clough, R. E., & Zheng, J. T. (2021). Epidemiology of Concussion in the National Football League, 2015-2019. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 9(8), 23259671211024345.

 Relevance: This paper provides comprehensive data on concussion rates by position and play type, noting that while most concussions occur during running and passing plays overall, the rate per play is highest on kickoffs, and positions heavily involved in pass plays (tight ends and wide receivers) have the highest exposure rates.

These sources, along with internal data analysis by the NFL that is frequently reported in football analytics, support the conclusions about the differing risks associated with specific game scenarios like sacks versus scrambles.

 This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional. AI responses may include mistakes.