Tua Tagovailoa makes surprise return after suffering scary head injury

After sustaining a “head injury” in the first half versus the Buffalo Bills, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was deemed questionable to return to the game after leaving the game and heading to the locker room late in the second quarter.

Exiting the halftime locker room, Tagovailoa made a surprising come back and started the opening drive for Miami despite the scary-looking injury. He even completed his first pass to Tyreek Hill for 22 yards on the first play of the second half.

A late hit on Tagovailoa by Bills defender Matt Milano sent the Miami QB to the ground. What looked like a small push caused the former Alabama star’s head to whip back. When walking off the field, the stumbled and fell to a knee and was accompanied to the back by athletic trainers.

Tua went to the locker room. Teddy Bridgewater is in.

Here's what happened.pic.twitter.com/b3xsr7Eesf

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 25, 2022

NFL veteran Teddy Bridgewater replaced Tagovailoa and finished the first half for Miami, but it seems the Dolphins’ QB1 is well enough to continue the game against the bills tied at 14 a piece.

Update:

NFL insider Ian Rapoport has since updated the injury to Tagovailoa, noting that it wasn’t a head injury after all.

“My understanding of the Tua Tagovailoa situation: He tweaked his back in the 1st quarter on a sneak and didn’t miss time. After the Matt Milano hit, his back locked up — leading to him wobbling. Into the locker room for a full concussion check. Fully cleared. Now on the field,” Rapoport tweeted.

Tua Tagovailoa ties franchise record in Week 2 win vs. Ravens

Tua Tagovailoa and his teammates put up a special performance in a 42-38 comeback win for the Miami Dolphins against the Baltimore Ravens. With so much attention on Tagovailoa to perform, he made a statement with a franchise record-tying performance on the road.

Tagovailoa threw six touchdowns in the win over the Ravens. It puts him in the company of Dan Marino and Bob Griese as the only Miami Dolphin quarterbacks to throw that many touchdowns in a single game.

Mike McDaniel’s offense, the addition of Tyreek Hill, and the development of Tagovailoa and his weapons have worked wonders for the former Alabama QB’s numbers so far. He has opened the season with 739 yards and seven touchdowns on a 70.9% completion rate.

In what was arguably a make-or-break year for Tagovailoa as a pro, putting himself in the franchise record books two games in will do a lot for he and his confidence moving forward.