Doug McDermott Won't Travel With Bulls On Start Of Road Trip While Dealing With Concussion

(CBS) Still in the league's concussion protocol, Bulls forward Doug McDermott won't travel with the team Monday as it leaves for a West Coast road trip, the Tribune's K.C. Johnson reported.

McDermott suffered the injury in Saturday's win against the Wizards when he fell hard to the floor on a foul by Markieff Morris. McDermott landed on his left side, and his head hit the floor as well. It's the second time this year he's suffered a concussion, as he was hit in the head on Oct. 31 as well and missed the following game.

Chicago opens a six-game road trip in Portland on Tuesday night before playing at Utah on Thursday. McDermott has been ruled out of Tuesday's game and is doubtful for Thursday. The Bulls then play the Clippers and Lakers in Los Angeles on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. It remains possible that McDermott could join the team later in the road trip.

Teammate Taj Gibson was quite concerned for McDermott's well-being Saturday after the injury.

"The first thing I noticed when I ran up on him after he got hit was he wasn't there," Gibson said. "I've had three concussions in my career, and that's one of the things people understand — when you hit that floor, that floor tends to smack you pretty hard.

"So when I looked at his eyes as soon as I ran up on him, I didn't like the signs I saw. I told him to take his time."

McDermott is the Bulls' sixth man and is averaging 10.6 points 51 percent shooting, including 36 percent from 3-point range.

Reserve guard R.J. Hunter will join the team and travel on the road trip after being recalled from the Windy City Bulls of the Developmental League. He averaged 17.0 points in a two-game stint there.