In an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Monday Morning Quarterback, former Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Russell Allen revealed that he suffered a stroke in a game Week 15 against the Buffalo Bills, but continued to play. He also announced that the scare will cause him to retire as he walks away from professional football.
Allen said that he noticed something was wrong on the field, but decided to try and play through the injury.
“It was strange because it was so routine,” Allen said. “We hit, I got off the block, no big deal. I felt something flash—like they say when you get your bell rung. I didn’t lose consciousness. I walked back to the huddle and finished the drive.”
Allen was having double-vison double vision and asked fellow linebacker Paul Posluszny if there was anything wrong with his eyes, but Posluszny couldn’t see anything. Allen continued to play in the game.
Following the game, Allen suffered headaches and sensitivity to light. When these headaches persisted for two days, he finally told the Jaguars training staff. He was sent for an MRI and it was discovered that he had suffered a stroke during the game.
This off-season, further neurological examinations have found a dead spot on his brain, and it is quite simply too dangerous for Allen to continue his professional football career. When the 27-year-old starting linebacker was cut by the Jaguars last week, it surprised many, but this news sheds more light on what happened and we recommend reading the above SI article to hear Allen’s story in his own words.
For the latest sports injury news, check out our friends at sports injury alert.
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