Marvin Mims Jr. was not supposed to be in the game on a late-game kick return in Sunday’s blowout of the Cowboys.

A communication failure led to Mims not only being in the game, but returning the ball 26 yards and sustaining a concussion at the end of the play, head coach Sean Payton said Monday.

Mims, a two-time All-Pro return man and a receiver who has seen his playing time and importance in Denver’s offense increase in recent weeks, is now in the league’s concussion protocol and will have to progress through several phases before he can return to the field.

Injuries are inevitable, but to have a starting player and one of the best return men in the game injured on a play while leading by 20 with 4 minutes, 44 seconds remaining will sting.

Payton said the communication broke down som

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