Tua Tagovailoa injury update: Mike McDaniel comments on Dolphins QB’s return

The Miami Dolphins are designating quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to return from the injured reserve, with hopes of him playing on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, per Ari Meirov. Tagovailoa hasn’t played since he suffered a concussion in the Dolphins’ Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said medical experts have deemed it safe for Tua Tagovailoa to return to play, per Cameron Wolfe. The Dolphins square off against the Cardinals at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.

When Tagovailoa went down with the concussion in Week 2, 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.

The concussion was Tagovailoa’s first of two that season. The former Alabama standout has now had three known concussions during his NFL career.

The Dolphins will welcome Tagovailoa back onto the field with open arms. The team is 1-3 since Tagovailoa’s injury, with their only win coming against the New England Patriots.

Most recently, the Dolphins fell 16-10 to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. In the loss, Dolphins quarterback Tyler Huntley only completed 7-of-his-13 pass attempts for 87 yards and a touchdown. The Dolphins are only averaging 179.5 passing yards per game this season, the seventh-least in the NFL.

While Tagovailoa is excited to get back on the field, he knows he must put an emphasis on being more careful.

“Just gotta be smart,” he said. “That’s it. Gotta be smart. My entire time playing football, I’ve been a competitor and that was my edge when I would run in high school and college.

“This is the professional level, the best of the best, you just can’t be doing that. Definitely gotta stay more available for the team, the organization and for our guys.”