Tom Savage reentered a game just minutes after a horrifying hit, and people are starting to again question the NFL's concussion protocol

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December 10, 2017 11:17 PM

Tom Savage appeared to lose control of his body momentarily after taking a hard, but was back in the game for the Texans just minutes later.

The Houston Texans' quarterback Tom Savage could be seen shaking on the field after taking a tough hit from 49ers defensive end Elvis Dumervil.
Savage returned to the field just minutes later despite the hit, but was later removed from the game due to a concussion.
Savage's return drew criticism from fans and experts alike.

The quick re-entry of Houston Texans' quarterback Tom Savage after a scary hit against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, led to more questions about the enforcement of the NFL's concussion protocol.

Pinned against his own end zone, Savage dropped back and was decked by 49ers defensive end Elvis Dumervil. Savage remained on the ground for a while after the hit, with his hands visibly shaking, before eventually being helped up.

You can see the scary moment below.

After the hit, Savage went to the team medical tent for less than three minutes, before returning to the game for the Texans' next series. Savage stayed in the game for the three-play series and went back to the sideline. A series later, Savage tried to take the field again, but was stopped by a team official and led back to the locker room by a trainer.

Across Twitter, many shared their horror with Savage's return to the field.

Tom Savage is back in the g... @ Sean Jordan

Tom Savage is back in the g... @ Dylan MacNamara

So Tom Savage should not st... @ David Lombardi

This is very alarming. The ... @ Michael David Smith

As Sarah Barshop at ESPN noted, Savage's initial return to the field caught the attention of

Disgusted that the @Houston... @ Chris Nowinski, Ph.D.

Savage was replaced by T.J. Yates, who led the Texans to a touchdown on his first drive under center, but Houston would in the end fall to the 49ers by a final score of 26-16.

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