Mike McDaniel of the Miami Dolphins on Tua Tagovailoa
Mike McDaniel of the Miami Dolphins on Tua Tagovailoa
Tua Tagovailoa left Thursday night’s game with another concussion, at least his third in the last three seasons.
The quarterback was hit during a run in the third quarter of the Miami Dolphins’ 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills and left the field under his own power.
Tua missed four games in 2022, as well as his team’s playoff game, due to concussions. Because of his history of head injuries, several former NFL players, including former Dolphins teammate Ryan Fitzpatrick and Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce, said he should retire from football to preserve his long-term health.
Here’s what we know about Tua’s status and his history with concussions:
What happened to Tua Tagovailoa?
On a fourth down attempt late in the third quarter on Thursday night, September 12, Tua Tagovailoa fought his way up the middle for a first down. He lunged at Bills safety Damar Hamlin, his head striking the defender’s chest and then hitting the ground.
Tagovailoa’s arms froze in the air, what neurologists call a “fencing reaction,” a sign of head trauma. He was able to leave the field and never returned to the game.
Latest information on Tua Tagovailoa’s injury
Tua Tagovailoa was diagnosed with a concussion shortly after leaving the field and was scheduled to undergo further tests on Friday.
It is not yet known whether Tua will be placed on the injured list, which would force him to miss at least four games, but coach Mike McDaniel said he is questionable for the Dolphins’ next game on Sept. 22 at the Seattle Seahawks.
Is Tua on the concussion protocol?
Tua Tagovailoa is currently in the NFL’s concussion protocol. He has 10 days to complete the protocol before the Dolphins’ next game on September 22 in Seattle.
Here’s what Tua must do before he’s eligible to play again:
- Phase 1: Symptomatic activity restriction (introduction of light aerobic activities)
- Phase 2: Aerobic exercise (more than 20 minutes with moderate to strenuous resistance)
- Phase 3: Football-specific exercises
- Phase 4: Contactless training exercises in the club (participation in all contactless training exercises)
- Phase 5: Full football activity (release)
Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion story
Thursday night was Tua’s third concussion, but there is speculation he has already suffered a fourth. During the Dolphins’ Week 3 game against the Bills, the back of Tua’s head hit the ground hard after a punch from Matt Milano. The quarterback stumbled while getting up and briefly left the game. McDaniel said Tua was evaluated by an independent neurologist and was no longer listed in the NFL’s concussion protocol the next day. The injury was initially reported as a head injury, but that was later changed to a back injury.
Four days after that game, Tua suffered an even more serious injury during Thursday Night Football against the Cincinnati Bengals. In the second quarter, the quarterback was thrown hard to the turf and remained lying there for several seconds with his fingers frozen in the air. He missed the next two weeks after the Bengals game. (Warning: The following video may be disturbing.)
Ten weeks after his return, Tua suffered another head injury on Christmas Day against the Green Bay Packers. He left the game briefly before returning. After the game, he was diagnosed with another concussion. Tua missed the final two games of the regular season as well as the Dolphins’ first playoff game since the 2016 season.
Will Tua Tagovailoa retire?
There’s no telling how Tua will react to his latest concussion. He has said he considered retiring after his 2022 concussions. And former NFL players have said he should quit, from ex-teammate Ryan Fitzpatrick to Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez, from linebacker Manti Te’o to former star receivers Antonio Brown and Dez Bryant. On Friday afternoon, Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said if Tua were on his team, “I’ll be honest, I would tell him to quit.”
Repeated concussions have ended several NFL careers prematurely, including Hall of Fame quarterbacks Troy Aikman and Steve Young. Star quarterback Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts also had to end his career prematurely due to ongoing health problems resulting from brain trauma.
FAN VOTE: After Tua Tagovailoa’s recent concussion, fans are wondering if he should retire. What do you think?
But ultimately the decision is Tua’s. Coach Mike McDaniel said Friday it would be “so wrong of me to have even the slightest idea” that Tua might retire. There are still tests to be done and time will tell if and when he is healthy enough to play again.
“You speak of be career,” said McDaniel. “His career is be.”
Tua Tagovailoa contract: How much money would Tua get if he retired?
Before the season, Tua signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension that would keep him in Miami through at least the 2026 season and 2028.
According to Spotrac, the Dolphins paid him $43 million for the 2024 season. His contract includes $167 million guaranteed, according to Spotrac, so if Tua has to retire for medical reasons, he’ll be entitled to the additional $124 million. If he’s cleared to play but still chooses to retire, the team could nullify the $124 million, in which case the two sides would likely come to an agreement.
Dolphins depth chart at QB
Skylar Thompson stepped in against the Bills after Tua left the game, completing 8 of 14 passes for 80 yards and being sacked once.
McDaniel said the team will look to sign another quarterback. Veteran Ryan Tannehill, who spent seven seasons with the Dolphins, is available as a free agent.
Here’s a look at the Dolphins’ quarterback lineup:
- QB1: Tua Tagovailoa
- QB2: Skylar Thompson
- Training squad: Tim Boyle
Contributors: Hal Habib and Joe Schad, Palm Beach Post; Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY
