Tua Tagovailoa injury update: Mike McDaniel reveals status for Week 7, 2024 season outlook

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters on Monday that Tua Tagovailoa will not play in Week 7, but the quarterback expected to resume playing in 2024 as he battles back from a concussion suffered in Week 2.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler relayed McDaniel’s update to the world via X: “#Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel to reporters today: Tua Tagovailoa will not play this week but is expected to resume playing in 2024. Tagovailoa is still seeking information and ‘the process continues.'”

While some have been vocal in their yearning for Tagovailoa to retire after suffering another concussion, it’s been the quarterback’s mission that he would return if cleared. That seems to be on the table, and the likeliest scenario for the Dolphins, according to McDaniel’s comments.

Earlier this season, NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills, via ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, revealed the league won’t “impose an outcome” for Tagovailoa, “other than enforcing the concussion protocol it administrates along with the NFL Players Association.”

While Tagovailoa’s concussion was the latest in a string of concerning head injuries for the quarterback, the league is simply allowing him to make his own decision after being given all the possible information, which feels like the fairest way to have it all play out.

“Patient autonomy and medical decision-making really matters,” Sills said, via ESPN. “And I think that’s what we have to recognize goes on with our concussion protocol as well. Ultimately when patients make decisions about considering their careers, it has to reflect that autonomy that’s generated from discussions with medical experts giving them best medical advice.”

Moreover, Sills added that there’s no “detailed formula” that can predict the future risk of concussions, so if the quarterback is cleared, he’s cleared. It’ll be up to him to determine whether he should return to the field, when that time comes.

In the time since Tua Tagovailoa suffered his concussion, the Miami Dolphins have struggled immensely. When he does return to the lineup, perhaps he’ll take certain measures to limit the possibility of another head injury in the future.