Tyler Shough’s wife sues Saints medical staff for negligent diagnosis following his first game with the team

New Orleans, a new storm is hitting the New Orleans Saints as quarterback Tyler Shough’s wife has officially filed a lawsuit against the team’s medical staff, accusing them of careless and irresponsible diagnosis after her husband suffered a serious jaw injury during the team’s 34 to 10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season.

The brutal collision and the “light” diagnosis

In his first official NFL start, Tyler Shough took a violent helmet to helmet hit from Rams linebacker Byron Young midway through the second quarter. The blow sent Shough crashing to the turf, clutching his face as medical staff rushed onto the field to assist him.

However, after only a few minutes of sideline evaluation, the Saints medical team concluded it was just a mild concussion, nothing serious, and cleared him to return to play. Shough reentered the game and even led a touchdown drive, the first scoring pass of his NFL career, a storybook moment that turned into a nightmare just days later.

When the real pain began

According to reports, on Tuesday morning (three days after the game), Tyler Shough woke up unable to close his mouth. His jaw was swollen and in severe pain, making it nearly impossible to eat or speak. After being examined at a private hospital, doctors confirmed that he had suffered significant damage to his lower jaw joint, likely as a result of the initial impact that the Saints medical staff had overlooked.

Upon learning the results, Shough’s wife, Emily Shough, filed a lawsuit in Louisiana state court on the evening of November 5, accusing the Saints medical staff of negligent diagnosis that caused long term harm and severe emotional distress to their family.

Emily Shough: “If they had done their job right, my husband wouldn’t have to suffer like this”

In her lawsuit, Emily wrote:

“They said it was just a mild concussion. But if they had taken the time to examine him properly, if they truly cared about his health instead of the game, my husband wouldn’t be spending nights in agony, unable to sleep from the pain.”

Sources close to the family said Emily had repeatedly expressed frustration and anger over how the Saints handled the situation, especially as Tyler was still required to speak to the media while suffering from excruciating pain. Reports confirmed that he underwent needle treatment to his face and jaw to manage the swelling, a detail corroborated by ESPN.

Internal reaction from the Saints

So far, the Saints have not issued an official statement, but internal sources say the lawsuit has created tension and unease inside the locker room and coaching staff.
Head coach Kellen Moore was reportedly “stunned” upon learning of the case, while Shough’s teammates have shown quiet support for the quarterback and his family, insisting the organization must “value players’ health more than the scoreboard.”

An anonymous player commented:

“We’re always told to trust the medical staff, but after this, people are starting to question things. No one wants to see a teammate go through that just because of a bad diagnosis.”

A new crisis in New Orleans

The lawsuit is being described as a major blow to the Saints’ reputation, already struggling through a 1 to 8 season.
The case has also sparked broader concerns about the NFL’s injury evaluation procedures, and could prompt an NFL Players Association (NFLPA) investigation if any violations are confirmed.

Despite the controversy, fans have shown strong sympathy and support for Tyler Shough, who displayed courage in his tough NFL debut. Many have dubbed him the warrior who couldn’t stay silent, both literally and symbolically, after the terrifying jaw injury.

The lawsuit filed by Emily Shough is now being reviewed by the Louisiana courts, and the Saints legal team is expected to release an official response in the coming days.