Six NFL players became the first in the league to wear Guardian Caps in a preseason game last weekend by using the oversized extra pad that goes over their regular helmets.
The safety gear is designed to prevent concussions.
The padding has been a part of practice equipment for a while, but this season the NFL has given players the option of using the gear during games for the first time.
Through the first week of preseason, though, only a handful of players have donned Guardian Caps during games.
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman James Daniels was the first to use the gear during a game on Saturday. Five Indianapolis Colts, including All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor, joined him on Sunday.
“Our [medical and equipment] guys here do a great job of keeping us informed,” Colts running back Zach Scott told The Indianapolis Star. “They’ve done the testing, and I don’t know the numbers, but they say it [offers] a significant reduction in concussions.”
The NFL said in 2022 that the Guardian Caps could reduce the force of a head collision by 10% if one player wears the safety equipment and by 20% if both players use them.
“My head doesn’t hurt, so that’s good,” Daniels told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette after his first game with the extra padding. “Hopefully more and more people start wearing them.”
However, equipment remains a divisive topic in NFL locker rooms for a couple of key reasons: it’s ugly and, for some players, too heavy.
The lumpy padding throws off the aesthetics of helmets, causing some players to refer to them as “mushroom caps.”
“Ew,” Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Greenard wrote on X in response to Taylor’s use of the gear.
The NFL is taking steps to improve the look of the padding by adding an additional skull cap that features a team’s colors and logo.
The trend hasn’t caught on.
“I can’t stand them. It impacts my swag,” Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay told CBS Sports last week. “My game is part of my swag. If I ain’t looking the part, I can’t feel the part. They have me looking very ugly out there with that big ol’ cap on the head.”
Some players have also raised concerns about the added weight of the caps.
“No way. It’s like an extra 10 pounds on your head; it makes it a lot hotter, heavier,” Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks told Pro Football Network, calling the added equipment “UFO Caps.” “No, I wouldn’t do it.”
NFL officials have repeatedly said they hope more players opt to use the gear in games to reduce short-term injuries like concussions and long-term issues like chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative disease caused by repeated head trauma.
Jeff Miller, the NFL executive vice president in charge of player health and safety, said in 2023 that Guardian Caps reduced concussions by 52% during training camps.
“We were really impressed with the information, maybe even a little bit surprised,” Miller said on “Good Morning Football” before the 2023 season. “It’s terrific.”
No Washington Commanders players opted to don the extra gear during their preseason opener against the Jets on Saturday.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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