BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Deatrich Wise will make his Super Bowl debut on Sunday in his rookie season. It’s a feeling that he has trouble describing. The rookie defensive end had another reason to be excited on Thursday – he passed the NFL’s concussion protocol and will play against the Philadelphia Eagles.
"It’s awesome," Wise said. "It’s an awesome feeling. I’m happy that I’m cleared and I’m ready to play."
Wise, like Rob [...]
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Deatrich Wise will make his Super Bowl debut on Sunday in his rookie season. It’s a feeling that he has trouble describing. The rookie defensive end had another reason to be excited on Thursday – he passed the NFL’s concussion protocol and will play against the Philadelphia Eagles.
“It’s awesome,” Wise said. “It’s an awesome feeling. I’m happy that I’m cleared and I’m ready to play.”
Wise, like Rob Gronkowski, has been in the concussion protocol since the day after the AFC Championship game against Jacksonville. He was limited in practice to start the week, but was a full participant on Thursday. The 23-year-old suffered a concussion last summer and went through the protocol for the first time in his career. He said that helped him over the last two weeks and he wasn’t worried.
“I knew what to expect,” Wise said. “Knowing that I couldn’t do anything to rush the process. It wasn’t like a finger or knee, it’s the head. It’s pretty much just let the brain heal on its own and just allow the doctors to do what they do and once they feel like it’s safe for me to go on the field, then they’ll let me know.”
The defensive end was the Patriots rookie of the year this season, finishing with five sacks. The fact that the fourth-round pick will end his first NFL season in the Super Bowl had him smiling ear-to-ear on Thursday.
“I’m elated,” Wise said. It’s awesome. Still that surreal feeling. I’m here. Every day, I’m like, ‘wow, I’m going to the Super Bowl.’ It’s just cool. Words can’t describe how I feel.”