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Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered another concerning head injury during Miami’s Week 2 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. With the Dolphins offense in the red zone, Tagovailoa scrambled on a crucial 4th-and-4 play from the 13-yard line, aiming to get a first down or possibly more. As he lowered his head, he was hit by Bills safety Damar Hamlin, causing his neck to jam on impact. The quarterback immediately went to the ground, remaining down for several minutes as players from both teams gathered around in concern.
Tagovailoa did not return to the game after the hit, and his status for future games remains uncertain. How long he’ll be sidelined depends on the severity of the injury and the team’s cautious approach, especially considering his past head injury history. More information will likely come after further evaluation and medical assessments.
What is Tua Tagovailoa’s injury?
Tua Tagovailoa was diagnosed with a concussion, marking the third official concussion of his career. After the hit, he managed to walk off the field under his own power before being taken to the medical tent for evaluation. Following the concussion diagnosis, he went back to the locker room and did not return for the remainder of the game.
In a positive update later in the fourth quarter, “Thursday Night Football” sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung shared that Tagovailoa had control over all his extremities. Head coach Mike McDaniel expressed relief about his quarterback’s condition, saying, “He was in good spirits… I was worried about my guy. It’s not something you ever want to be a part of.”
How long is Tua Tagovailoa out?
The Miami Dolphins have officially placed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve following his recent concussion, with no clear timeline for his return, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. This move is intended to allow Tagovailoa ample time to go through the concussion protocol and meet with external neurologists for proper recovery.
The team announced his IR status on Tuesday, confirming that the earliest he could return is Week 8 against the Arizona Cardinals. In the meantime, backup quarterback Skylar Thompson will start in Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks.
Despite this being the third confirmed concussion of Tagovailoa’s career, Rapoport reported that the quarterback has “no plans” to retire from the game. However, per the NFL’s concussion protocol, he must complete several steps before being cleared to return to play, meaning he is guaranteed to miss at least one game.
Given the severity and frequency of Tagovailoa’s head injuries, the Dolphins are expected to handle his recovery with extreme caution. Although placed on injured reserve, he must still clear concussion protocol before being eligible to return.
Head coach Mike McDaniel revealed that while Tagovailoa will travel with the team for their Week 3 game against Seattle, he won’t participate in the game as he remains under concussion protocol. McDaniel has refrained from providing a specific return timeline, emphasizing that daily assessments with medical experts will guide the recovery process.