The Dolphins (3-1) will head to New York to take on the Jets (2-2) in a pivotal meeting of AFC East opponents in Week 5, and they’ll do so without their starting quarterback.
Tua Tagovailoa will miss the game after sustaining a concussion in a Week 4 “Thursday Night Football” matchup vs. the Bengals, Miami coach Mike McDaniel said Monday, as the third-year signal-caller is still in concussion protocol. Teddy Bridgewater will get the start at quarterback for the Dolphins.
Bengals defensive tackle Josh Tupou slung Tagovailoa down for a sack in the second quarter, slamming the latter’s head to the turf at Paycor Stadium. The Miami quarterback was down for some time on the field, displaying “fencing,” a neurological response to head trauma in which one’s fingers and body go rigid. He was carted off the field and transported to a hospital.
That followed a similar issue the previous week, when he hit the back of his head following a late hit by Bills linebacker Matt Milano. Tagovailoa shook his head on the field and stumbled as he tried to jog away from the site of the hit. He cleared concussion protocol at halftime and returned to play the remainder of the game, with Tagovailoa and McDaniel saying he actually had a back injury.
DECOURCY: Dolphins’ mishandling of Tua Tagovailoa injury is bad for football — and bad football
Following the Bengals game, McDaniel had this to say of his quarterback’s injury:
“It was a scary moment. He was evaluated for a concussion, and he’s in the concussion protocol. He was at the hospital, I believe he’s about to be discharged,” McDaniel told reporters. “That was an emotional moment that is not part of the deal that anyone signs up for, even though you know it’s a possibility in football to have something that you have to get taken off on a stretcher.
“All of his teammates, myself, we were all very concerned. The best news that we could get is that everything is checked out. That he didn’t have anything more serious than a concussion. He’ll be flying back with us here on the plane.”
Tagovailoa — who was released from the hospital and did return to Miami with the team — issued a statement indicating he was OK following the injury:
Appreciate all the support! 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/jWBYyvbbwg
— Tua. T 🇦🇸 (@Tua) September 30, 2022
How long will Tua Tagovailoa be out with a concussion?
While Tagovailoa is definitely out for Week 5 against the Jets, McDaniel said there is no timetable for the quarterback’s return to the lineup. He told reporters the team will seek input from multiple people before clearing Tagovailoa to play.
McDaniel, moving forward, who determines when Tua can play? “It’s not one person. It’s a collection of contributing factors.”
— Hal Habib (@gunnerhal) October 3, 2022
McDaniel also said the team would not commit to placing Tagovailoa on Injured Reserve, adding that the quarterback is in the building and “has had a few good days” in his recovery. Moreover, he said Tagovailoa is being “diligent” in returning only when he feels 100 percent ready, adding that the team is ready to take as long as it needs to ensure he’s undergoing protocol properly.
McDaniel claimed he felt the injuries Tagovailoa sustained vs. the Bills and Bengals were “separate entities,” adding that he felt confident the team properly underwent concussion protocol as mandated by the league and players association.
Tua Tagovailoa concussion protocol updates
Monday, Oct. 3
Tagovailoa is ruled out for Miami’s Week 5 game against the Jets, as he remains in the concussion protocol. The Dolphins are not putting a timetable on his potential return to the lineup.
Sunday, Oct. 2
A host of NFL players are benched in-game to undergo concussion protocol, seemingly in response to Tagovailoa’s injury and response from the NFL and players association.
MORE: Wave of players benched under concussion protocol after Tua Tagovailoa controversy
Saturday, Oct. 1
The NFLPA reportedly fires the UNC who conducted Tagovailoa’s evaluation vs. the Bills, claiming the doctor committed “several mistakes,” did not understand their role as a UNC and conducted a hostile interview with the NFLPA.
The NFLPA’s decision to terminate the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant involving in clearing Tua Tagovailoa came after the union’s discovery of “several mistakes” made by the doctor in its view, per source.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) October 1, 2022
The NFLPA cited several factors in terminating the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant involved in Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion check last Sunday – including failure to understand his role as UNC and hostility during the investigation process, sources tell me and @RapSheet.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 1, 2022
Later in the day, the NFL and NFLPA are reported to be nearing an agreement in which any player who demonstrates instability will not be allowed to reenter the game. The new concussion protocol is believed to go into effect as early as Week 5.
Friday, Sept. 30
McDaniel reiterates that Miami followed the jointly agreed concussion protocol between the NFL and NFLPA.
“I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I prematurely put someone out there and in harm’s way,” McDaniel said. “I get the optics. I get exactly what it looks like. I get people’s concern. One thing I can exude with 100 percent conviction is that everyone in this building had the correct process and diligence.”
Thursday, Sept. 29
Tagovailoa takes a second blow to the back of his head in as many weeks, suffering a concussion vs. the Bengals. The hit occurs in the second quarter, resulting in Tagovailoa displaying the “fencing” response.
He is carted off the field and transported to a local hospital for treatment and observation.
Tagovailoa is released from the hospital the same night and returns to Miami with the Dolphins on their chartered flight. Following the game, McDaniel says the team followed protocol to determine Tagovailoa could return to play.
“What goes into every one of those decisions, that it starts with your medical staff but then there’s independent specialists that look into it, too,” McDaniels said. “There’s an entire protocol and then you’re talking to the player as well. There’s probably five or six different layers of a process and decision-making like you do with all players.”
Tuesday, Sept. 27
McDaniel says Tagovailoa is considered “questionable” by the Dolphins for the Week 4 game vs. the Bengals with back and ankle issues. The injury report for the week indicates Tagovailoa did not practice in the days leading up to the game.
MORE: Tua Tagovailoa concussion investigation: NFL believes Dolphins followed protocol with QB’s injury
Sunday, Sept. 25
Tagovailoa takes a late hit from Bills quarterback Matt Milano. He appears to be dazed by the hit, stumbling as he attempts to jog off the field.
Full replay of the Tua (possible) concussion play. He got hit by Matt Milano and hit the turf with his head. pic.twitter.com/29dqNyJ45L
— René Bugner (@RNBWCV) September 25, 2022
Though he does not finish the half, Tagovailoa clears concussion protocol at halftime following evaluation by a team doctor and unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant (UNC). He returns to finish the game, a 21-19 win.
Following the game, Tagovailoa and McDaniel both claim the quarterback’s issue related to his back, which was the reason he was not able to get his legs under him in the clip shown. The NFL Players Association announces it is launching an investigation into how the Dolphins handled concussion protocol.
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