The Dolphins are worried after their star quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, suffered a concussion in a loss to the Bills on Thursday.
It was Tagovailoa’s third diagnosed concussion in his NFL career after he missed five games in 2022 due to multiple concussions.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who kissed the side of Tagovailoa’s head when he left the game in the third quarter, explained he’s worried about the quarterback as a human being more than his timeline of returning to the field.
“I think it’s important to approach each and every situation … every injury with [the mindset of], ‘We’re going to handle this particular situation with this particular player,’” McDaniel said when he was asked about Tagovailoa’s injury history and if it would influence how he handles the quarterback’s current situation after Miami’s 31-10 loss to Buffalo.
“Every situation is unique. I am not worried about anything that’s out of my hands in terms of, I’m just worried about the human being, and he’ll drive the ship when we get the appropriate information. But it’s day-by-day health … particularly with concussions.”
Tagovailoa is getting medical testing Friday at the Dolphins facility.
The injury occurred when Tagovailoa rushed for a first down on fourth-and-four and was tackled by Damar Hamlin.
“Right now … it is more about getting a proper procedural evaluation tomorrow and taking it one day at a time,” McDaniel said. “The furthest thing from my mind is what is the timeline. We just need to evaluate and just worry about my teammate. … We’ll get more information tomorrow and then take it day by day from there.”
It was his fourth diagnosed concussion in the past five years, including his final season at Alabama in 2019.
“Crushed. I hate to see him like that,” said Dolphins offensive lineman Austin Jackson, who was near Tagovailoa when he went down at Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday. “Even with his history already with that type of stuff, I hate to see it. I hate that it was him rushing out the pocket.
“Wish I could get that back for all of us. I could have been better.”
Tagovailoa was on the ground for a few minutes while surrounded by medical trainers, and players nearby kneeling.
He walked off the field and to the locker room under his own power, and was quickly ruled out for the rest of the game.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott also expressed concern for Tagovailoa after the game.
“Very sad. That’s the worst part of the game,” Allen said. “Nothing but love and prayers sending to him and his family, and hopefully everyone’s sending those, because he’s going to need them. It’s the worst part of the game.”
McDermott said the injury “didn’t look good.”
Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins added, “It was the saddest thing… It’s such a sad day.”
Skylar Thompson relieved Tagovailoa and finished the game.
The 27-year-old, a former seventh-round pick by Miami in the 2022 NFL Draft, is the only other active quarterback on the Dolphins’ roster.
Tim Boyle, who briefly started for the Jets last season, is currently on the practice squad.
Tagovailoa, who signed a four-year contract extension worth $212.4 million in the offseason, said his mother asked him to consider retiring during an appearance on the “The Dan Le Batard Show” last month.
Instead, the quarterback trained in jiu-jitsu to strengthen his neck and learn how to fall.
Former NFL stars called for Tagovailoa to reconsider playing football for his long-term health after Thursday’s scary scene.
The Dolphins face the Seahawks in Seattle in Week 3.
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