Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa leaves Dolphins-Payments recreation with concussion

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa left Thursday night time in opposition to Buffalo due to a concussion after colliding with Payments defensive again Damar Hamlin and hitting the again of his head in opposition to the turf.

Tagovailoa, who has a historical past of coping with head accidents, remained down for about two minutes earlier than attending to his toes and strolling to the sideline after the play within the third quarter. He made his approach to the tunnel not lengthy afterward, trying into the stands, appeared to smile and departed for the Dolphins’ locker room.

The Dolphins wanted nearly no time earlier than saying it was a concussion.

Tagovailoa, who sustained a number of concussions his first three NFL seasons, positioned himself for an enormous pay bump with an injury-free and productive 2023. He threw for 29 touchdowns and a league-best 4,624 yards.

He signed a four-year, $212m extension earlier than this season and was the NFL’s main passer in Week 1 this season. Tagovailoa left the sport with the Dolphins trailing 31-10.

Tagovailoa was harm on a fourth-down keeper with about 4:30 left within the third. He went straight forward into Hamlin and didn’t slide, main along with his proper shoulder as an alternative.

He wound up on his again, each his arms within the air and Payments gamers instantly pointed at Tagovailoa as if to counsel there was an harm. Dolphins middle Aaron Brewer rapidly did the identical, waving to the sideline.

Tagovailoa finally bought to his toes. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel grabbed the aspect of his quarterback’s head and gave him a kiss on the cheek as Tagovailoa departed. Skylar Thompson got here into the sport to take Tagovailoa’s spot.

Hamlin was the participant who suffered a cardiac arrest after making a deal with throughout a Monday night time recreation in January 2023 at Cincinnati, inflicting the NFL to droop a pivotal recreation that rapidly misplaced significance within the aftermath of a scary scene that unfolded in entrance of a nationwide tv viewers.