Judge OKs reworked NCAA concussions settlement

CHICAGO (AP) – A federal judge in Chicago has given preliminary approval to a reworked head-injury settlement between former college athletes and the NCAA.

U.S. District Judge John Lee said Tuesday his is giving his OK to a deal hammered out after he rejected the initial agreement in 2014. Lee praised the new deal for expanding plaintiffs to athletes from sports beyond football, hockey and other contact sports.

He also suggested some changes before he can give final approval. That includes modifying what would have been a blanket protection for the NCAA from class-action concussion suits.

The core of the new agreement is the same. That includes the NCAA creating a multimillion-dollar fund to test current and former athletes for brain trauma.