Tua Tagovailoa hit vs. Bills: Damar Hamlin’s emotional message to Tua Tagovailoa

Damar Hamlin, like everyone else in the football world, is wishing Tua Tagovailoa a swift and full recovery.

During the “Thursday Night Football” game between the Dolphins and the Bills, Tagovailoa had to leave the field after colliding with Hamlin during a crucial fourth-down play. This hit resulted in Tagovailoa suffering a concussion and forced him out of the game.

It’s important to note that Hamlin’s tackle was not meant to cause harm. The impact happened when Tagovailoa ran straight into Hamlin, causing his head to hit Hamlin’s chest.

Hamlin explained after the game, “I was just trying to make a regular tackle to stop them from advancing on fourth down.”

Hamlin and many others around the league reached out to Tagovailoa with supportive messages after this troubling incident at Hard Rock Stadium. Given Hamlin’s own experience with a serious injury, he can empathize with Tagovailoa’s situation. Hamlin, who experienced a life-threatening cardiac arrest on the field in January 2023 after tackling Tee Higgins of the Bengals, understands how severe injuries can affect players.

Hamlin shared his thoughts on dealing with trauma: “It’s something that stays with you, but I’ve worked hard to overcome it. I’ve done trauma therapy and talked with a psychologist to help me move forward. I did the tough work last year to get back into the game, and now I’m fine and ready to play.”

During the Dolphins’ 31-10 loss to the Bills, Tagovailoa was injured in the third quarter while trying to score on a fourth-and-4 play from the 13-yard line. Instead of sliding, he tried to push through Hamlin, which led to his helmet hitting Hamlin’s chest.

After the hit, Tagovailoa lay on the ground for a bit, showing a “fencing posture” with his arms sticking out stiffly, which is an unusual and concerning sign. The medical team attended to him on the field.

Tagovailoa eventually got up and walked off the field to a cheering crowd, but he was quickly ruled out for the rest of the game with a concussion, just six minutes after the collision.