Dillon Gabriel answers question about high-profile concussion of Tua Tagovailoa

Quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Tua Tagovailoa are always going to be linked and compared. They’re both left-handed quarterbacks from Hawaii, where Gabriel even beat Tagovailoa’s high school passing record. This season, while playing for Oklahoma and the Miami Dolphins respectively, they’ve both suffered high-profile head injuries.

In his postgame press conference, Dillon Gabriel was asked if Tua Tagovailoa was someone who he’s looked up to through the years.

“Tough to say, just because I’ve played against him before,” Dillon Gabriel explained. “Played a quarter against him before the lights went out my sophomore year of high school. But definitely a guy, you know, I look at as a guy representing Hawaii and doing it very well.”

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The reporter who asked Dillon Gabriel about Tua Tagovailoa then explained that he asked the question to then follow up and ask about the head injuries that the two suffered and if they’ve been in contact.

“I haven’t, but you know the crazy timing of it, I think it led to a lot of people just being a lot more cautious with certain hits. I think you see the Colts running back [Keke Coutee] as well and the Baylor quarterback [Blake Shapen] going through a similar deal,” Dillon Gabriel said.

Dillon Gabriel is referencing concussions that have occurred in both the NFL and college games recently. These have reminded fans and media about the dangers involved in playing football.

“I think it’s just–people are a lot more cautious. There’s a lot more eyes on it because of the severity of Tua’s and how scary it can get if you’re not protected or fully healed. So, haven’t been able to reach out to him but, you know, prayers to him and he’s representing Hawaii in a hell of a way.”

Dillon Gabriel suffered his injury on a late hit against TCU. He slid on the play but was hit anyway. This forced him to miss the Texas game, which Oklahoma lost in a blowout. He returned to beat Kansas. For his part, Tua Tagovailoa was injured on a Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. He was cleared to return by a doctor who was later fired for the decision. Then, he suffered another head injury on Thursday night.

Tua Tagovailoa is set to return

After his series of head injuries, there was concern that his season or career might be in jeopardy. However, now, Tua Tagovailoa is expected to return to the Miami Dolphins in Week 7.

“Dolphins’ QB Tua Tagovailoa was cleared from concussion protocol today, per sources,” Adam Schefter tweeted. “He will be inactive on Sunday vs. the Vikings, but he is expected to return for Week 7 vs. the Steelers“