On the heels of their fourth straight loss, the Dolphins received troubling news. Tua Tagovailoa is back in the team’s concussion protocol, inviting questions about his return to action and when his latest injury happened.
Mike McDaniel said it was too early to tell if this will sideline Tagovailoa for the Dolphins’ Week 17 matchup with the Patriots, but Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes Teddy Bridgewater will be the team’s first-stringer for much of this week in practice. Availability concerns aside, this particular player suffering another head injury will bring considerable scrutiny given the events from earlier this season.
McDaniel did not know if Tua suffered a concussion against the Packers or what play exactly landed him in the protocol again, saying no one recognized what hit could have triggered this. A Twitter user’s video is making the rounds, however, as to when this latest Tagovailoa setback occurred. If this is the play in which Tagovailoa suffered the injury, the third-year quarterback played the entire second half with concussion symptoms that were not noticed by independent spotters. Tagovailoa did not report any symptoms Sunday.
“This is something that just came across my plate a couple hours ago,” McDaniel said Monday. “As far as the game was concerned, no one recognized anything with regard to any sort of hit. I can’t really tell you exactly what it was. I’m not totally positive on that, but it was something that he met with the doctors today and discussed some symptoms and then from that, as you guys know, from there on, that’s between Tua and the doctors and we’ll move forward as information is projected towards us.”
This is Tagovailoa’s third bout run-in with concussion-like symptoms this season. The Dolphins’ handling of their quarterback produced a controversy in Week 3, when he showed concussion-like symptoms but was allowed to stay in the game — a Miami win over Buffalo. That initiated an NFLPA inquiry and led to the NFL revising its concussion protocol. Tagovailoa, whom the team said navigated concussion protocol during the Week 3 game, played four days later. The talented passer was then transported off the field during a game against the Bengals with a confirmed concussion. He missed the next three games. Based on this history, it is unlikely Tua will play against the Patriots.
The Dolphins are 8-4 in games Tagovailoa finishes and 0-3 in other contests, leading them toward the playoff bubble after they had bounced back upon their starter’s return. Tagovailoa threw interceptions on the Dolphins’ final three drives, dropping them to 8-7. Its playoff chances notwithstanding, the team will be under a microscope for how it handles what is either Tagovailoa’s second or third concussion this season.
Now we know why Tua Turntheballova was trending all over on Christmas night.
Playing concussed would help explain why Tua had no idea where he was throwing the ball in the second half.
The coaching staff is so committed to protecting Tua’s fragile psyche (see interview with Jimmy Johnson before the game) that they might be endangering his life.
This is chasing shadows. “Potential” concussion isn’t actual concussion
If he keeps playing for another 10 years. He’ll be a vegetable when he’s in his mid 40’s. Hang up the cleats son
Agreed. Tua should retire asap. Surely he has banked some money. He could also go into coaching or broadcasting.
Thanks Mr./Mrs. Tagovailoa
“McDaniel didn’t know if Tua got a concussion against the Packers…”
No I’m sure it was on his bumpy car ride to the stadium. When do they think it happened?
Is there a chance this is just lingering issues from previous events? I’ve never had a concussion but if he had two bad ones earlier it could just be a continuation of those issues.
Nope. There is a genetic pre-disposition to concussion. Some people can get hit again and again in the head and not be concussed, at levels which would knock others out cold. Then with every concussion a person suffers his vulnerability to future concussion falls.
So where you are right is that having had a couple of concussions this season, Tua is now definitely fragile. Which is why even a light hit gave him a concussion. But every hit to the head for the rest of his life is likely to concuss Tua, making him more and more vulnerable to CTE.
The man cannot safely play in the NFL at this point. Imagine being in a conference championship against either Sean Payton or even Bill Belichick. The first demand of the defense would be to whack Tua in the head or knock his head against the ground to send him straight to concussion protocol.
Too bad Tua doesn’t play baseball like little Kyler Murray. If his agent/lawyer is clever, they could force the NFL to pay out on his full rookie contract. The concussions are a chronic injury caused by football. Any reputable neurologist would support Tua’s position.
Mike McDaniel looking bad again.
Stephen Ross: “Thank goodness mentally impaired behavior doesn’t prevent anyone from being an owner”.
My God, just retire already. Miami needs a franchise QB anyway.
Maybe they should test this guy after each quarter, as the “hit” they are blaming for this concussion sure didn’t look like much.
Why does stuff like this always have to be someone’s fault? How about this: it’s a violent game and stuff like this happens.
All necessary precautions should be taken, but at some point it’s just the nature of the game. We’re trending to a point where the rule will be once you have a concussion you are forced to retire.
I don’t think most people are really passing blame on anyone. Not seriously anyway. If they are then it has to start with Tua himself. The hit in the game they are saying caused the concussion occurred over 50 times as bad or worse throughout the game.
It certainly seems that people are blaming Tua. I have criticisms of him myself, but as the article stated, the Dolphins are 8-4 in games that he finishes and 0-3 in games that he doesn’t. I don’t agree with how harsh the criticism of Tua has been.
This poor kid’s brain is going to be mush by 40
Pickett had had two this year as well.
Cheating Dolphins cheating again. Lol, our QB is concussed but we are going to trot him back out there (again). Happened Vrs Buffalo in the first game. Terrible cheating franchise. Mentally weak. Folds like origami when it matters.