New contact lenses help Jets rookie LB Lorenzo Mauldin’s migraines

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Two weeks ago, New York Jets rookie linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin suffered a scary injury in his NFL debut. 

The game against the Cleveland Browns was delayed for several minutes, Mauldin was carted off the field and went straight to the hospital. It was later determined he had suffered a concussion, which was made worse by one of his frequent migraine headaches. A migraine condition that is now being treated, he says, by tinted contact lenses. 

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The science is developing but the theory goes that certain migraine conditions can be treated through tinted lenses. Migraines can develop for a variety of reasons, and one of which is exposure to light and in particular, fluorescent lights. The tinting of contact lenses can help limit the impact of light entering the eye.

Mauldin got the contacts specifically to help with the migraines. 

“I have contacts now that limit the sunlight to my pupils. It helps a lot,” Mauldin told Yahoo Sports. “It’s normal eyesight, nothing different that way it  just has a slight shade to it. Still see the same colors, it’s just not as bright. So it is supposed to help me and maybe I won’t have migraines as often.” 

Mauldin said that things like driving or playing at night won’t be affected. It should be a positive change with no drawbacks for him.

“It’s to help the migraines, I’ve had migraines before, something I’ve had to deal with,” Mauldin said. “They say the contacts will help with this and really change things for the better. I hope so.” 

The injury came on the biggest play of his first NFL game. In the fourth quarter, Mauldin stripped Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel of the football and the Jets recovered. On the play he fell forward and hit the turf head first.

Hard. 

He got up moments later, only to stagger backwards as if he was hit. Mauldin was motionless on the ground for minutes until he was taken off on a stretcher. Many feared something far worse than a concussion, as there was no sign of movement from his body. 

That day, he had a migraine which doctors believe may have exacerbated the concussion. Hopefully the contact lenses prevent more migraines and another scary moment like that one in Week 1.

On Sunday, Mauldin could return to the field. He sat out in Week 2. Throughout the week leading up to Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles, the NFL’s concussion protocol was followed and Mauldin has returned to the practice field.

He doesn’t remember anything from his final play against the Browns and he hasn’t watched that moment on film. It’s time to simply to move on. 

“Football, you get injured, you can’t go out there with any mentality. You have to go out there and play the game,” Mauldin said. “If I do play Sunday or next week, you have to go out there and try to make plays and do the best that I can. You can’t look back.” 

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Kristian R. Dyer writes for Metro New York and is a contributor to Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter @KristianRDyer. Email him at [email protected]