CINCINNATI -- Bengals cornerback and punt return specialist Adam Jones cleared two separate in-game checks for concussion-like symptoms Sunday at Tampa Bay, but team officials said Wednesday that he told trainers after the game he thought he had a head injury.
As a result, Jones was placed earlier this week under the concussion protocol. He didn't practice Wednesday.
Since he passed a check from team physicians during the game, as well as one from a league-mandated independent specialist, the 10-year NFL veteran was able to finish the game. He played 37 snaps in the 14-13 win before later self-reporting the concussion.
Trainers believe Jones' injury came after a hard hit in the second quarter. It was around the time of the suspected injury that Jones was first checked by team doctors. He didn't exhibit any symptoms that would have kept him out, a team official said, and Jones continued playing. Later in the game, the injury spotter who sits in the press box as part of the league's recently stepped-up concussion efforts suggested that Jones needed to be evaluated again. It was at that time that the independent neurologist examined him.
The independent doctor also found no signs of concussion symptoms.
Jones took two hard hits during the game. Both blows came on punt returns he should have signaled as fair catches. Tampa Bay's Michael Koenen routinely booted high and short punts.
Once in the second quarter and once in the third, Buccaneers cover team players hit Jones the instant he touched the punt. Both times, he was knocked down hard, swarmed by a group of tacklers. As harrowing as both hits may have appeared to be, Jones got up quickly each time.
Coach Marvin Lewis, who took criticism earlier this year for comments he made about enhanced media attention helping concussions "linger longer" now than they used to, was upset by Jones' lack of calling for a fair catch.
"Those aren't kicks you can return," Lewis said. "We're going to get good field position, so don't risk yourself getting injured over this thing where you don't want to fair catch. That's not smart. We want to play smart football."
On a third punt return try at the start of the fourth quarter, Jones waved for a fair catch. It was the first fair catch he had signaled in 97 consecutive return tries and 2,929 days. His previous fair catch came on Nov. 19, 2006, when Jones' Tennessee Titans beat the Philadelphia Eagles. It was a streak he took great pride in.
One of the most adamant critics of Lewis' comments in October was NFL Players Association president Eric Winston, a veteran offensive tackle the team signed Tuesday. Winston said Wednesday that his criticisms weren't directed toward Lewis but rather the broader problem of the league not taking concussion safety more seriously.
A dangerous specialist, Jones has 19 returns for 223 yards this season. Among players with double-digit returns, he ranks fifth in return average at 11.7 yards.