Tua Tagovailoa injury update: Miami Dolphins QB to meet with outside neurologists
In the Miami Dolphins’ 31-12 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 12, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion. Last week, the Miami Dolphins placed Tagovailoa on injured reserve. On Tuesday, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed Tagovailoa will meet with outside neurologists this week, per the NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe.
“The plan hasn’t changed. It’s been executed,” McDaniel said. “That’s where it stands. I don’t know reports, who sources are, but people should talk to me. I’ve got the real information.”
With the Dolphins’ decision to place Tagovaila on injured reserve, he cannot return until Week 8 at the earliest. The team has a bye in Week 6.
When Tagovailoa went down with the concussion, his right hand curled into a fist and extended into the air. Although it was not as severe, the involuntary action was eerily familiar to Tagovailoa’s reaction when he suffered a concussion in September 2022.
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The concussion was Tagovailoa’s first of two that season. The former Alabama standout has now had three known concussions during his NFL career.
It was a slow night for Tagovailoa against the Bills before he suffered the injury. He finished the game with 145 passing yards and a touchdown while throwing three interceptions.
Last week, ESPN’s Adam Schefter provided further details on Tua Tagovailoa’s plan moving forward.
“It’s a situation where Tua Tagovailoa is going to be in information-gathering mode this week and meeting with neurologists to figure out the best course of action to move forward,” Schefter said during an appearance on SportsCenter.
“In the past, he has not wanted to retire, and the expectation is he’s going to want to continue playing, but obviously you have to meet with the neurologist first to hear what they have to say about your condition.”
Numerous NFL veterans and media personalities have implored Tagovailoa to retire to preserve his health since the injury, but Schefter emphasized that Tagovailoa has not yet made any permanent decisions.
“[Dolphins head coach] Mike McDaniel has been pretty clear that they’re going to leave this up to Tua and the doctors,” Schefter said. “The Dolphins, right now, have no other choice but to move ahead.”
Tagovailoa’s absence was obvious on Sunday as the Dolphins fell 24-3 to the Seattle Seahawks. Dolphins QB Skylar Thompson completed 13-of-his-19 pass attempts for 107 yards. The Dolphins only amassed 205 total yards of offense.