Bucs tight end Cameron Brate is in the concussion protocol after running into wide receiver Chris Godwin while making a nine-yard catch with 1:35 left before halftime of Sunday’s 41-31 loss to the Chiefs.

Brate was dazed after the collision and took his time getting off the field. So much so, that it caused a delay of game penalty. Brate returned to action later in the drive and nearly had a touchdown catch a few plays later, but then was placed into the concussion protocol at halftime.

So why was Brate allowed to stay in the Bucs game on Sunday night? Bowles addressed that with the media on Monday.

“He went on the sideline and he complained of shoulder discomfort – nothing about his head,” Bowles said. “He was checked out three times. He just said to give him a minute. Nothing came up. He went back in until the end of the half. At halftime he started having symptoms. Obviously, they were delayed. He started complaining about that. We tested him. He’s in the protocol. We kept him out the rest of the game.

“He complained about shoulder, he said nothing about his head on the sidelines. Nobody called down. He was checked out three times [for his shoulder].”

Bucs TE Cam Brate – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

There is a lot of concussion talk in the NFL right surrounding the fact that the Dolphins played quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on Thursday at Cincinnati after he sustained a concussion against Buffalo last Sunday in Miami.

Bowles was pressed about Brate’s condition during the press conference, and asked why he didn’t see a neurologist until halftime at the earliest.

“Like I said, he complained about his shoulder – not his head,” Bowles said. “You can’t see a neurologist or talk about concussions if you’re only complaining about your shoulder. It came up at halftime when he started saying, “I have symptoms about my head.’”

Bowles acknowledged that Brate took a big hit that staggered him when he collided with the Bucs receiver.

“It was a noticeable hit, but again it was on the shoulder,” Bowles said. “Nobody said it was about the head. He got checked out three times. He said he just needed a minute for his shoulder to clear up and that was it.”

Bucs Likely To Use Rudolph On Sunday

Brate finished the game with four catches for 32 yards. He is almost certain to miss Sunday’s game against Atlanta unless he makes remarkable progress by Wednesday. Veteran Kyle Rudolph has been a healthy scratch for three out his first four games in Tampa Bay and would replace Brate in the lineup.

Brate has 11 catches for 100 yards (9.1 avg.) on the season and is replacing Rob Gronkowski as the starter in Tampa Bay this year.