Tua Tagovailoa injury update: Adam Schefter updates recovery timeline, chances Miami QB returns to NFL

Miami Dolphins (1-2) quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is symptom free and targeting a return to football after suffering a concussion in Week 2 earlier this month, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Speaking on “Monday Night Countdown” ahead of Miami’s Week 4 home tilt against the Tennessee Titans (0-3), Schefter said it’s possible that Tagovailoa steps back into the starting lineup after spending the minimum four weeks on injured reserve.

🚨 Adam Schefter with an update on Tua Tagovailoa’s return: “[Tua] has been symptom free and he has been meeting with neurologists and I don’t believe that anybody’s told him anything right now to dissuade him from wanting to play.” (@ESPNNFL) #GoFins pic.twitter.com/IbESAAKO6N

— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) September 30, 2024

“He [Tagovailoa] has been symptom free, and he has been meeting with neurologists,” Schefter said, via FinsXtra. “I don’t believe that anybody’s told him anything right now to dissuade him from want to playing. I think there is a feeling here that he is bound to come back. And for all the talk there was about Tua Tagovailoa and how he should stop playing and how he should retire, the fact of the matter is, there is a real possibility that when his four games are up on injured reserve, that he is going to be back in the Miami Dolphins lineup.

“A lot of people find this hard to believe, hard to imagine, but there is that real possibility that he is going to be back that soon. At the very least, it sounds like he is intent upon continuing his NFL career sooner rather than later.”

Tua Tagovailoa looking to make Dolphins return after minimum stay on injured reserve

Tagovailoa, 26, sustained the concussion in the third quarter of the 31-10 defeat to the Buffalo Bills (3-1) after scrambling for a first down and lowering his head to initiate contact with Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Immediately after the impact, Tagovailoa’s body showed the fencing posture. Tagovailoa was able to walk off the field and head to the locker room under his own power. Miami diagnosed him with the third known concussion of his NFL career.

The Dolphins started Skylar Thompson under center in Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks (3-0). Thompson left midway through the third quarter after suffering a rib injury, forcing Tim Boyle to finish the game.

Miami signed Tyler Huntley off the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad last week and named him the starter against Tennessee.