Tua Tagovailoa suffers concussion: Dolphins QB 'in good spirits' after exiting recreation vs. Payments on 'TNF'

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion on the conclusion of a fourth-and-4 run within the third quarter of the Week 2 “Thursday Evening Soccer” matchup in opposition to the Buffalo Bills. Tagovailoa lowered his head trying to realize the primary down when he collided with Payments security Damar Hamlin within the purple zone. The Dolphins shortly dominated him out for the rest of the competition. 

After crumpling to the sphere, Tagovailoa appeared to enter the “fencing response,” which he equally confirmed after struggling a daunting concussion throughout a 2022 “Thursday Evening Soccer” matchup in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Tagovailoa remained on the turf as trainers evaluated him whereas teammates on the sphere took a knee. He quickly bought up and walked off the sphere below his personal energy with trainers by his aspect. Dolphins backup Skylar Thompson changed Tagovailoa below heart because the Dolphins went on to lose 31-10.

In July, Miami signed Tagovailoa to a four-year, $212.4 million extension with $167 million in ensures following a profession season in 2023. He led the league with 4,624 yards passing to associate with 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

There have been legit issues in regards to the former No. 5 total choose’s long-term well being following the 2022 season as he missed 4 begins as a consequence of concussions. Nevertheless, Tagovailoa made a concerted effort that offseason to keep away from concussions. He bulked up, skilled in martial arts and began carrying a brand new helmet. Consequently, Tagovailoa began each recreation for Miami in 2023 for the primary time in his profession. 

Sadly, this latest incident and the ensuing fencing response drag up a long-running story that has not been addressed in over a 12 months. 

NFL concussion historical past

In Week 3 of the 2022 season, throughout a matchup in Miami in opposition to the Payments, Tagovailoa took successful the place he was knocked backward and hit his head on the sphere. The quarterback bought up and seemed to be woozy, even dropping all the way down to the bottom once more earlier than teammates helped him up. He exited the sport and apparently handed concussion protocol, with the Dolphins classifying his damage as a again problem. The NFLPA even mentioned afterward it could investigate the situation. 

Simply 4 days later, the Dolphins travelled to Cincinnati to tackle the Bengals. Within the second quarter, Tagovailoa was sacked and violently hit the again of his head in opposition to the enjoying floor. He went right into a fencing response, the place he raised his arms eerily as a neurological response to go trauma. Tagovailoa was stretchered off the sphere and transported to the College of Cincinnati Medical Heart through ambulance. Nevertheless, he was discharged from the hospital and flew dwelling with the group.

Dr. Rahul Shah, a board-certified orthopedic backbone and neck surgeon, gave CBS Sports activities some perception into what the fencing response is:

“So what occurs is when the top will get successful, it mainly snaps backwards,” Dr. Shah mentioned. “So when you could have this sort of situation, this complete construction mainly will get affected and what’s going to occur is the particular person will get knocked out they usually mainly have this decorticate response. Mainly, consider it as a short-circuiting that is occurring that is going all the best way to the fingertips. And that is what it is exhibiting — it provides you perception that the bottom of the neck or that mind space remains to be pretty fragile, significantly after the truth that he is had his prior damage.” 

Tagovailoa would miss the subsequent two video games, however return for a Week 7 matchup in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Nevertheless, his concussion points weren’t over. In a Christmas Day matchup in opposition to the Green Bay Packers, Tagovailoa had a horrible second half by which he threw three interceptions. The next day, it was introduced that he had entered concussion protocol. Tagovailoa would miss the ultimate two regular-season begins, and Miami’s Tremendous Wild Card Weekend matchup in opposition to Buffalo. 

Tagovailoa’s damage Thursday night time marks what’s formally his third concussion in his NFL profession. The quarterback even admitted that he considered retirement after being stretchered off the sphere in Cincinnati. 

“Yeah, I believe I thought of it for a time having sat down with my household, having sat down with my spouse and having these conversations,” Tagovailoa mentioned in April 2023. “However actually, it could be arduous for me to stroll away from this recreation with how previous I’m, with my son. I at all times dreamed of enjoying so long as I may to the place my son knew precisely what he was watching his dad do. I imply, it is my well being, it is my physique, I really feel like that is what’s greatest for me and my household.”

What’s subsequent

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel instructed reporters after the 31-10 loss to the Payments that he spoke with Tagovailoa on the sphere and within the locker room earlier than he went dwelling, saying he “was in good spirits.” 

“My thought was concern,” McDaniel responded when requested what he instantly thought after Tagovailoa’s damage. “I used to be simply nervous about my man. Not one thing that you simply ever wish to be part of, you already know? You hope to not.” 

McDaniel provided no perception a couple of potential journey to injured reserve, saying solely that Tagovailoa can be evaluated on Friday. 

Some, together with Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Tony Gonzalez, are already calling for Tagovailoa to retire for the sake of his long-term well being. Aside from taking time to recuperate, the subsequent step for Tagovailoa within the technique of returning to the sphere can be clearing concussion protocol. Concussions are completely different for everybody, and never each participant will clear protocol as shortly as others. But when the concussion proves as “excessive” because it appeared on Thursday, Tagovailoa may very well be sidelined a minimum of eight to 12 weeks, in keeping with CBS Sports activities HQ damage skilled Marty Jaramillo. He provides the quarterback’s historical past of head trauma suggests “retirement has to not less than be in play.”

In the end it is as much as Tagovailoa and the docs. We now await outcomes from Friday’s evaluations.