The Miami Dolphins placed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on the injured list on Tuesday due to the concussion he suffered Thursday against the Buffalo Bills.
Miami’s announcement did not specify how long Tagovailoa will be sidelined. A stint on the injured list would mean Tagovailoa would miss at least four games.
Tagovailoa, who has a history of head injuries, suffered a concussion from a blow to the head in the third quarter of Thursday’s 31-10 loss to the Bills.
Tua gets a hard blow. He seems to have a concussion. #BUFvsMIA photo.twitter.com/SwBpjQQaM1
— Rate the Refs app (@Rate_the_Refs) September 13, 2024
Tagovailoa remained lying on the field after the impact. He eventually walked to the locker room with the help of trainers and did not return to the game.
Backup Skylar Thompson took over at quarterback against Buffalo and is the presumptive starter as long as Tagovailoa remains sidelined. The Dolphins signed former Ravens backup Tyler Huntley from the Baltimore practice squad on Monday.
Tagovailoa’s latest brain injury has led to renewed calls to consider retirement to protect his health. He is reportedly consulting with independent neurologists and has no intention of retiring.
Tagovailoa’s History of Brain Injury
Tagovailoa suffered at least two concussions during the 2022 season and is believed to have suffered a third. He was visibly shaken and wobbly after hitting the back of his head on the field in Week 4 of that season against the Bills. He was cleared to return to play after initially being diagnosed with a head injury, but he passed the concussion protocol. The Dolphins later classified the injury as a back injury.
A week later, in an away game against the Cincinnati Bengals, another blow to the head caused what appeared to be a fencing move by Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa was immobilized on a stretcher and transported from the stadium to a local hospital. He was diagnosed with a concussion.
Tagovailoa missed the next two games before returning to the field in Week 7. He suffered another concussion in Week 15 against the Green Bay Packers, ending his season. His third head injury of the season led to calls for Tagovailoa to retire.
Miami’s handling of Tagovailoa’s injury against the Bills in 2022, allowing him to return to the field, led to an investigation by the NFLPA and ultimately a midseason change to the NFL’s concussion protocols to better protect players with head injuries.
Tagovailoa said he considered retiring after the 2023 season but returned to play in all 17 games, earning his first Pro Bowl berth. Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212 million extension before the start of this season.
