The Miami Dolphins have positioned Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve after the quarterback was recognized together with his third concussion in two years.
Tagovailoa will likely be sidelined for not less than 4 video games and will likely be eligible to return in Week Eight when the Dolphins host Arizona, however he has to efficiently full a sequence of exams and assessments required by the NFL’s concussion protocol earlier than he can return to the sector.
Tagovailoa was harm within the third quarter of the sport in opposition to the Buffalo Payments on a play the place he collided with Payments defensive again Damar Hamlin. He ran for a primary down after which initiated the contact by decreasing his shoulder into Hamlin as a substitute of sliding.
Gamers from each groups instantly motioned that Tagovailoa was harm, and as he lay on the turf the quarterback exhibited some indicators sometimes related to a traumatic mind damage.
He remained down on the sector for a few minutes, bought to his ft and walked to the sideline. The Dolphins recognized him with a concussion just some minutes later.
Coach Mike McDaniel has since cautioned in opposition to hypothesis on the quarterback’s soccer future, stressing he’s extra targeted on Tagovailoa getting wholesome than what this newest concussion means for the staff or for his long-term profession.
Tagovailoa this week started the method of consulting neurologists about his well being amid experiences he has no plans to retire. Others across the NFL have supplied their opinions on Tagovailoa’s future, together with Raiders coach Antonio Pierce, who instructed he ought to retire.
“As far as Tua’s career is concerned, I think it’s an utmost priority of mine for Tua to speak on Tua’s career,” McDaniel mentioned.
“Reports are reports. As far as I’m concerned, I’m just worried about the human being and where that’s at day to day. I’ll let Tua be the champion of his own career.”
McDaniel mentioned Tagovailoa was on the staff’s follow facility on Monday smiling together with his team-mates and dealing with trainers.
“He’s doing good, man. Talked to him, he’s in good spirits,” Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle mentioned. “[He’s] got the team in good spirits and everybody praying for him and hoping [for his] health.”
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Tagovailoa was taken to hospital with head and neck accidents after being compelled out of the sport in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals
Head accidents have develop into an all-too-familiar, all-too-scary incidence all through Tagovailoa’s profession.
In a September 2022 sport in opposition to Buffalo, he took successful from linebacker Matt Milano, which precipitated him to slam to the bottom.
He appeared disoriented afterward and stumbled as he tried to get to his ft. He was cleared to return to that sport and later mentioned it was a again damage that precipitated the stumble. He was not recognized with a concussion.
4 days later, he bought hit once more throughout a sport at Cincinnati through which he was briefly knocked unconscious and was taken off the sector on a stretcher. As he lay on the turf, his fingers appeared to show the “fencing response”, a time period sometimes related to a mind damage. That point, he was positioned within the concussion protocol.
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A glance again on Tagovailoa’s vastly regarding concussion suffered within the NFL, and the fallout from it
Tagovailoa’s scenario sparked fast and vital modifications to the concussion protocols by the NFL and the NFL Gamers Affiliation. Essentially the most notable addition was that an abnormality of stability and/or stability could be a symptom prohibiting a participant from returning to a sport.
Tagovailoa briefly thought-about retirement after that, however as a substitute returned and studied methods to raised defend himself on the sector, together with taking jiu-jitsu courses forward of the 2023 season.
Tagovailoa has mentioned he spoke to quite a few neurologists who advised him they didn’t consider he could be extra vulnerable to go accidents than another participant transferring ahead, nor would he be at the next danger for persistent traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is the mind illness related to repeated blows to the pinnacle. He was additionally recognized with a concussion whereas in school at Alabama.
With Tagovailoa sidelined, the Dolphins will go along with back-up Skylar Thompson after they journey to face Seattle on Sunday. Miami additionally signed Tyler Huntley off the Raven’s follow squad.
What’s subsequent?
The Payments will host Jacksonville on Monday September 23, whereas the Dolphins journey to Seattle on Sunday September 22.
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