Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa Update

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will meet with neurologists early this week after being diagnosed with his third concussion in two years, but has no plans to retire, according to NFL reporter Ian Rapoport.

Rapoport said, “It is my understanding that Tua Tagovailoa has no intention of retiring,” Sunday morning during NFL Game Day on NFL Network, following a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Tagovailoa was meeting with neurologists.

From @NFLGameDay: #Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa has no plans to retire, according to sources. He has already begun seeing concussion specialists and will continue to do so, but there is no return date. Tua will return when he and his doctors deem him healthy and ready. pic.twitter.com/Cc6aQI8HcZ

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 15, 2024

The idea, Schefter said, is for Tagovailoa to get clarity on the severity of his most recent concussion and the cumulative effects of his concussion history, all with the goal of making the best, most informed decision about his future.

Tagovailoa was injured in the third quarter of the Dolphins’ 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday night when he ducked and lunged into safety Damar Hamlin’s chest at the end of a 6-yard run on a fourth-and-4 play.

Along with the contact with Hamlin, Tagovailoa’s head hit the turf after his fall.

Tagovailoa is now in the concussion protocol for the third time. According to CBS Sports, he is one of at least 10 players since 2019 to have entered the protocol at least three times, but he is the only quarterback in the group.

Tua’s first two cases came in 2022, when he was diagnosed with a concussion in another Thursday night game, against the Cincinnati Bengals, and then the day after the Christmas Day game against the Green Bay Packers.

The return to participation protocol in the event of concussion has five steps.

While former players and Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce have felt that Tua should retire after this latest concussion, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel has firmly stated that neither he nor anyone else should speculate on Tua’s future.

Asked what he told Tagovailoa before the quarterback went to the locker room after his injury, McDaniel said: “I told him he was the starting quarterback for his family and he needed to go to the locker room, take a deep breath and I’ll see him soon.”