Adam Teicher, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Jamaal Charles says he doesn't have a concussion but ...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Shortly after Sunday's game at San Diego, Jamaal Charles passed off the helmet-to-helmet hit he took from former teammate Brandon Flowers as no big deal.

"Yeah, he put a big hit on me and I’m thankful that I got up healthy,” Charles said after the Chiefs' 23-20 victory.

Charles changed his story during an interview with ESPN Radio today.

“It definitely hurt,'' he said. "A couple plays later, I just (saw) this light buzz around my eyes and I was trying to catch ‘em. But I was like, ‘let’s get the ball and run again.’"

The hit happened on Charles' touchdown run in the second quarter. He went on to describe other symptoms that could be consistent with those of a concussion. He said he had flashbacks to scenes from his childhood. But he indicated he was never checked for a concussion because, he said, he didn't have one. Charles finished the game.

“I didn’t have a concussion,'' he said. "It was definitely a hit that shocked me. I didn’t think I had to go through the concussion protocol and all that because I didn’t want to go through that again. That’s what happened in the playoffs. I was definitely fine. I think I came out pretty good.

"I could definitely play through stuff like that. It wasn’t a concussion. If it was a concussion I wouldn’t remember the plays or remember none of my teammates’ names or remember what sideline to go to. I definitely remember everything. It was just a huge hit.''

Charles was removed in the first quarter of last year's playoff game against Indianapolis after taking a hit to the head. He didn't return. Charles later insisted he didn't have a concussion.

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