N.C. State quarterback Grayson McCall is in the concussion protocol, Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said Monday.

McCall, a Coastal Carolina transfer with a history of head injuries, was put on a stretcher and carted off the field in the first quarter of N.C. State’s 34-30 loss to Wake Forest in Week 6 at Carter-Finley Stadium.

“He’s in the concussion protocol. We’ll give him time to go through all the steps that he wants to go through before we talk anymore about what the next steps are,” Doeren said during his weekly press conference.

“I think it’s only fair to him and his family to allow him that opportunity, and be supportive of him as he goes through this tough time. Thankful that he is, for the most part, OK.”

McCall was released from the WakeMed hospital on Saturday night and “all the scans they did came back clean,” according to Doeren.

Grayson McCall's injury, status for NC State

Following a hit to his head on a run play, McCall had his helmet knocked off and was motionless on the field as medical personnel came to his side. After being put on a stretcher, as he was being carted off the field, McCall pointed toward the sky to acknowledge the crowd.

“It's probably, in 30 years of being on a college field, the scariest moment I’ve had,” Doeren said.

Doeren doesn't think there was any "malicious intent" on the hit, but he has talked with the ACC about the play.

“I have a lot of respect for Al Riveron, the head of (ACC) officials. … I think he and I are on the same page, with the fact that the targeting rule itself needs to be studied," Doeren said. "I think the language in it puts the refs in a tough spot.”

McCall missed two games earlier this season and the final six games of his career with the Chanticleers. When asked about McCall's injury history and his football future, Doeren said he doesn't have a problem with making a decision to keep a player off the field for safety reasons.

But, Doeren added, he'll "always start first with the doctors and the family, and the young man" before providing input.

"Obviously, if I felt that way, I have no problem making that call. But I’m gonna start with them. I think that’s the right way to do it. I have three sons and I would want them to be treated the same way that I’m gonna treat these guys," Doeren said.

"If that’s where we’re at, that’s where we’ll be. But I have no problem making that decision if that’s where we end up. But the steps are not: head coach, first. … I’m gonna let them go through the steps. Once we do that, then we’ll have a conversation publicly. He deserves that opportunity.”

With McCall out, true freshman CJ Bailey is expected to be N.C. State’s starting quarterback moving forward. The Wolfpack hosts Syracuse (4-1, 1-1) on Saturday (8 p.m., ACC Network) at Carter-Finley Stadium.

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: NC State's Dave Doeren talks Grayson McCall’s concussion, future steps