Two of his teammates who suffered concussions that night also were absent from the indoor session: tight end Ben Watson and fullback Owen Marecic.
It was the third concussion for Watson this season and the second for Marecic.
McCoy's concussion is controversial because the Browns have said they administered the proper concussion tests before sending him back into the game, but a report Sunday by ESPN's Chris Mortensen said they didn't. Sources told Mortensen that the standard SCAT2 test wasn't conducted until Friday morning,
Browns coach Pat Shurmur will address Mortensen's report after practice, probably around 12:15.
If McCoy can't play, Seneca Wallace will get the start Sunday in Arizona. McCoy has suffered at least one other concussion, when he was in high school. Teams need to be even more careful with players who have suffered multiple concussions.
McCoy suffered the head injury when Steelers linebacker James Harrison drilled him in the facemask with his helmet with a little less than six minutes left in the game. He remained down on the field for a few minutes and then spent only two plays -- totaling 80 seconds -- on the sidelines. Total time from the hit to returning to the game was 3:50.
The hit on McCoy looked so jarring — the crown of Harrison’s helmet hit McCoy’s facemask, causing his head to snap back — it seemed unlikely he’d be able to return. But he was quickly back in the game when trainers gave the go-ahead.
Right tackle Tony Pashos, the team’s union representative, said it’s possible the medical staff didn’t see the hit and McCoy seemed fine by the time they got to him as he lay on the field.
“I’m really impressed with the Browns’ medical staff,” Pashos said. “There was like bodies everywhere, and I think for having so many injuries going on at the same time and trying to get guys taken care of, that was a product of that night. I think our staff did the best they could with that.
“If anything, you’re gonna just see more hands on deck. Joe (Sheehan) here has been upfront and he’s held some pretty valuable players for us out of games. He had no fear in doing that before.”
Nine Browns have sustained concussions this season, and tight end Benjamin Watson and fullback Owen Marecic were removed against the Steelers. Watson’s had three concussions this year, and Marecic two. They didn’t practice Monday.
“They were a huge part of our game plan, massively a huge part of our game plan, and they didn’t come back in that game,” Pashos said.
The players also defended Shurmur.
“You can’t blame him for putting Colt back in there,” Thomas said. “I think unless they think something’s wrong they’re going to put him back in the game.
“Colt’s been hit hard a lot this year. He’s been down a few times. But he’s a tough kid, so I think it’s very understandable that he says, ‘I’m OK,’ and he goes back in the game and everything’s fine.”
Pashos said McCoy seemed OK after he returned to the huddle.
“He was pretty gung-ho,” he said. “The guy that I saw I thought was pretty ready and prepared to go out there and win and everything.
“I’m not evaluating anybody. I’m not a doctor. I’m the right tackle.”
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