Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa exits loss to Payments with third profession concussion | NFL

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained a concussion for the third time in his NFL profession, leaving his group’s sport Thursday evening in opposition to Buffalo after working into defensive again Damar Hamlin and hitting the again of his head in opposition to the turf.

Tagovailoa 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 method to the tunnel not lengthy afterward, wanting into the stands earlier than smiling and departing towards the locker room.

The Dolphins wanted virtually no time earlier than saying it was a concussion. The group mentioned he had two throughout the 2022 season, and Tagovailoa was recognized with one other concussion when he was a university participant at Alabama.

“I’ve a number of love for Tua, constructed an ideal relationship with him,” mentioned quarterback Skylar Thompson, who changed Tagovailoa after the harm. “You care concerning the individual greater than the participant and all people within the group would say the identical factor. Simply actually praying for Tua and hopefully all the things will come out all proper.”

Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212 million extension earlier than this season – a deal that makes him one of many highest-paid gamers within the NFL – and was the NFL’s main passer in Week 1 this season. Tagovailoa left with the Dolphins trailing 31-10, and that was the ultimate rating.

“If you realize Tua exterior of soccer, you’ll be able to’t assist however really feel for him,” Payments quarterback Josh Allen mentioned on Amazon following the sport. “He’s an ideal soccer participant however he’s a fair higher human being. He’s top-of-the-line people on the planet. I’ve obtained a number of love for him and I’m simply praying for him and his household, hoping all the things’s OK. But it surely’s powerful, man. This sport of soccer that we play, it’s obtained its highs and it’s obtained its lows – and this is likely one of the lows.”

Tagovailoa’s school years and first three NFL seasons have been marred by harm, although he positioned himself for a giant pay bump with an injury-free and productive 2023 as he led the Dolphins into the playoffs. He threw for 29 touchdowns and a league-best 4,624 yards final 12 months.

When, or if, he can come again this season is anybody’s guess. Tagovailoa mentioned in April 2023 that the concussions he had within the 2022 season left him considering his enjoying future. “I believe I thought-about it for a time,” he mentioned then, when requested if he thought-about stepping away from the sport to guard himself.

Tagovailoa was harm Thursday 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 shortly did the identical, waving to the sideline.

Tagovailoa gave the impression to be making a fist along with his proper hand as he lay on the bottom. It was motion according to one thing that’s known as the “fencing response”, which may be frequent after a traumatic mind harm.

Tagovailoa finally obtained 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. 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 evening sport in January 2023 at Cincinnati, inflicting the NFL to droop a pivotal sport that shortly misplaced significance within the aftermath of a scary scene that unfolded in entrance of a nationwide tv viewers.

“I really like Tua on and off the soccer discipline,” Payments edge Von Miller mentioned. “I’m an enormous fan of him. I can empathize and sympathize with him as a result of I’ve been there. I want him one of the best.”

Tagovailoa’s historical past with concussions – and the way he has since labored to keep away from them – is a big a part of the story of his profession, and now involves the forefront as soon as once more.

He had at the very least two concussions throughout the 2022 season. He was harm in a Week 3 sport in opposition to Buffalo and cleared concussion protocol, although he appeared disoriented on that play however returned to the sport.

The NFL later modified its concussion protocol to mandate that if a participant exhibits attainable concussion signs – together with an absence of stability or stability – he should sit out the remainder of the sport.

Lower than per week later, in a Thursday evening sport at Cincinnati, Tagovailoa was concussed on a scary hit that briefly knocked him unconscious and led to him being taken off the sphere on a stretcher.

His second recognized concussion of that season got here in a December sport in opposition to Inexperienced Bay, and he didn’t play for the remainder of the 2022 season. After that, Tagovailoa started learning methods the place he might be able to fall extra safely and shield himself in opposition to additional harm – together with learning jiu-jitsu.