The Miami Dolphins positioned Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve after the quarterback was recognized together with his third concussion in two years, the workforce introduced Tuesday.
Tagovailoa can be sidelined for at the least 4 video games with the designation. He can be eligible to return in Week 8 when the Dolphins host Arizona, however has to efficiently full a sequence of checks and assessments required by the NFL’s concussion protocol earlier than he can return to the sphere.
Tagovailoa was damage within the third quarter of a Thursday night time recreation towards 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 reducing his shoulder into Hamlin as a substitute of sliding.
Gamers from each groups instantly motioned that Tagovailoa was damage, and as he lay on the turf the quarterback exhibited some indicators usually related to a traumatic mind harm. He remained down on the sphere for a few minutes, obtained to his toes and walked to the sideline. The Dolphins recognized him with a concussion just some minutes later.
Coach Mike McDaniel has since cautioned towards hypothesis on the quarterback’s soccer future, stressing that he’s extra targeted on Tagovailoa getting wholesome than what this newest concussion means for the workforce or for his long-term profession. Tagovailoa this week started the method of consulting neurologists about his well being amid studies that he has no plans to retire.
Others across the NFL have provided their opinions on Tagovailoa’s future, together with Raiders coach Antonio Pierce, who prompt he ought to retire.
“So far as Tua’s profession is anxious, I believe it’s an utmost precedence of mine for Tua to talk on Tua’s profession,” McDaniel stated Monday. “Reviews are studies. So far as I’m involved, I’m simply apprehensive concerning the human being and the place that’s at everyday. I’ll let Tua be the champion of his personal profession.”
McDaniel stated Tagovailoa was on the workforce’s apply facility on Monday smiling together with his teammates and dealing with trainers.
“He’s doing good, man. Talked to him, he’s in good spirits,” Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle stated Monday. “[He’s] obtained the workforce in good spirits and all people praying for him and hoping [for his] well being.”
Head accidents have change into an all-too-familiar, all-too-scary incidence all through Tagovailoa’s profession.
In a September 2022 recreation towards Buffalo, he took successful from linebacker Matt Milano, which induced him to slam to the bottom. He appeared disoriented afterward and stumbled as he tried to get to his toes. He was cleared to return to that recreation and later stated it was a again harm that induced the stumble. He was not recognized with a concussion.
4 days later, he obtained hit once more throughout a Thursday night time recreation at Cincinnati during which he was briefly knocked unconscious and was taken off the sphere on a stretcher. As he lay on the turf, his fingers appeared to show the “fencing response,” a time period usually related to a mind harm. That point, he was positioned within the concussion protocol.
Tagovailoa’s state of affairs sparked fast and important 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 can be a symptom prohibiting a participant from returning to a recreation.
Tagovailoa briefly thought-about retirement after that, however as a substitute returned and studied methods to higher defend himself on the sphere, together with taking jiu-jitsu lessons forward of the 2023 season.
Tagovailoa has stated he spoke to quite a few neurologists who advised him they didn’t consider he can be extra prone to go accidents than some other participant shifting ahead, nor would he be at a better danger for power traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is the mind illness related to repeated blows to the pinnacle. He was additionally recognized with a concussion whereas in faculty at Alabama.
With Tagovailoa sidelined, the Dolphins will go together with backup Skylar Thompson once they journey to face Seattle on Sunday. Miami additionally signed Tyler Huntley off the Raven’s apply squad.
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