INDIANAPOLIS -- NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. takes pride that he was able rehab from his concussion and feels fortunate to return to racing in 2017.
So he can relate to Michael Oher, the offensive tackle who was released Thursday by the Carolina Panthers after failing a physical. Oher has not played since the third game of the 2016 season because of a concussion.
Earnhardt talked to Oher in February as both were being treated by doctors at the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program in Pittsburgh. Earnhardt missed the final 18 races of the 2016 NASCAR season as he dealt with vision and balance issues, including having problems focusing on an object in the distance while moving his head.