WATCH: Mike McDaniel gets emotional discussing Tua Tagovailoa injury, defends playing him
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa left the team’s Thursday night game on a stretcher with a scary head injury. It’s a moment that has been emotional for people all around the sport of football. That includes his head coach, Mike McDaniel, who got choked up while speaking about Tua Tagovailoa’s injury Thursday.
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While Mike McDaniel did get emotional about the injury, saying that he’ll never be comfortable with a player being carted off the field and that it’s something you never want to be a part of, he also defended the decision to play him.
Controversially, Tua Tagovailoa appeared to suffer a head injury against late in the first half against Buffalo last Sunday. Of course, Tagovailoa was quickly cleared of the concussion protocol, with the team reporting he suffered a back injury. That’s despite Tagovailoa reaching for his head, and stumbling after the play prior to him leaving the field.
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“If I were to sit someone for a medical issue going against medical people abstractly then when do I play him again,” Mike McDaniel said.
The NFLPA requested a review of concussion protocols following the incident Sunday. Then, following his injury Thursday, the NFPLA tweeted, “Player health and safety is at the core of the union’s mission. Our concern tonight is for Tua and we hope for a full and speedy recovery. Our investigation into the potential protocol violation is ongoing.”
Mike McDaniel also said that Tua Tagovailoa asked to go back in the game, to which he replied: “Stop this right now. Don’t even think about a game. … Let’s worry about you and your head and being a healthy human being. We’ll worry about playing football later.”
Tua Tagovailoa was released from the hospital and allowed to fly back with the team following their loss to the Cincinnati Bengals late Thursday night. While on the plane, Tagovailoa sat next to Mike McDaniel, and according to McDaniel, the two talked about how he was feeling for 15-20 minutes. Then, Tagovailoa pulled out his phone and they shared a laugh while watching MacGruber.