Chargers offensive lineman D.J. Fluker suffered a concussion during Sunday’s game against the Chiefs, hours after an independent neurologist cleared his return from a concussion that he suffered four days earlier, sources said Tuesday.

Fluker reported concussion-like symptoms, including headaches, following the 33-3 loss at Qualcomm Stadium. He since has re-entered the league protocol, and his status is considered very much in doubt for Sunday’s game against the Jaguars.

This is the fourth known concussion of Fluker’s career.

The first three all came during a Wednesday practice, one in each of his three NFL seasons. He missed the ensuing Sunday game after his first concussion but played that same Sunday on the next two.


Under the current NFL protocol, there is no minimum number of days or games that a concussed player must be sidelined before returning to play. All concussions are considered unique, and the speed at which a player progresses through a five-step protocol — rest and recovery; light aerobic exercise; strength training with continued exercise; football-specific activities and drills without contact; clearance to play — without setback is determined by his perceived recovery.

That Fluker, 24, suffered another concussion Sunday does not indicate a failure, be it by the independent neurologist or the Chargers, to adhere to the protocol in place. That said, one person close to Fluker expressed desire before Sunday’s game that he wouldn’t play, citing the context of the situation: The concussion was Fluker’s third, it occurred in such close proximity to the game, and the Chargers were 2-7.

The team’s loss, its sixth straight, dropped it to 2-8.

Fluker is now at four.


Return-to-play policies vary by sport. USA Rugby, for example, requires all concussed adults to have one full week of rest before, if symptom free, beginning a five-day clearance protocol. Youth and high school rugby players must wait two weeks before eligible for the five-day protocol.

Fluker, a former first-round pick from Alabama, said in 2013 that his rookie-year concussion was the first and hopefully last of his career. It came when he, a right tackle at the time, collided with a guard during a practice drill. The 6-foot-5, 339-pound lineman moved positions from right tackle to guard this August during training camp.

“I don’t recall getting popped,” Fluker said in 2013. “I was walking, but I could not see. I thought I was going to go blind, for real. A certain hit, you can go blind. It blurs your vision. ... This (right) side of my brain felt slow. I was slow processing things. I got the feeling like it was dragging. The side of my face felt numb a little bit.”

The Chargers entered last weekend with nine concussions diagnosed this regular season, most in the NFL.


That number jumped to 12 on Sunday. Nose tackle Sean Lissemore and safety Jahleel Addae exited the Chiefs game in the first and third quarter, respectively. It is not known at what point in the game Fluker was concussed; he played all 60 of the team’s offensive snaps.

After the game, Fluker declined an interview request in the locker room. He was not attempted to be reached Tuesday for this story, as NFL media policy prohibits players who are in concussion protocol to be interviewed. A Chargers spokesman declined comment.

The team will hold its first practice of the week on Wednesday.