Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa Suffers Concussion in Loss to Bills

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s night took a worrying turn in their 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Thursday. Tagovailoa, who has already dealt with multiple concussions in his NFL career, suffered a concussion during the third quarter of the game, raising concerns about his immediate future and overall health.

The incident occurred when Tagovailoa scrambled up the middle, attempting to gain a first down. As he lowered his shoulder to make contact with Bills safety Damar Hamlin, Tagovailoa’s helmet struck Hamlin’s body with significant force. This collision caused Tagovailoa to exhibit a concerning "fencing response," where his arms were held in an unnatural, rigid position. Medical trainers quickly rushed to his aid, and he was attended to on the field for several minutes. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Tagovailoa managed to walk off the field under his own power and was taken to the locker room. He was soon ruled out for the remainder of the game.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel emphasized that the priority is to ensure Tagovailoa receives thorough and appropriate medical evaluation and care. “The furthest thing from my mind is, ‘What is the timeline?’” McDaniel said. “We just need to evaluate and just worry about my teammate, like the rest of the guys are. We’ll get more information tomorrow and take it day by day from here.”

In the locker room after the game, some teammates were reportedly encouraged by Tagovailoa’s condition. Quarterback Skylar Thompson, who stepped in for Tagovailoa, expressed concern for his teammate, noting, “You care about the person more than the player, and everybody in the organization would say the same thing. Just really praying for Tua and hopefully everything will come out all right.”

This isn’t the first time Tagovailoa has been in the spotlight for concussion issues. Back in 2022, he experienced a significant concussion scare after hitting the back of his head during a game against the Bills. Although he initially returned to the game, the situation led to a joint investigation by the NFL and NFLPA. This investigation resulted in changes to the league’s concussion protocol, including a new clause that allowed for the removal of players showing signs of ataxia, a symptom of severe concussions.

Just days after the Bills game, Tagovailoa suffered another concussion against the Cincinnati Bengals, this time rendering him briefly unconscious. He was subsequently taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a concussion, leading to further scrutiny of how the Dolphins handled his previous injury. The Dolphins faced criticism for allowing him to return to play, and Tagovailoa was benched for two games before returning. Unfortunately, he suffered another concussion during a December game against the Green Bay Packers, leading to his shutdown for the rest of the season.

Tagovailoa did consider retirement after the 2022 season due to concerns from his family, particularly his mother. However, he chose to continue playing, using the offseason to strengthen his body and train in jiu-jitsu to learn how to fall safely. His efforts paid off as he managed to play all 17 regular-season games in 2023 and the Dolphins' playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs. This past offseason, he signed a four-year, $212.1 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid player in franchise history.

As for his future, McDaniel remains non-committal about Tagovailoa’s return to football, stating that they will evaluate his progress and make decisions as needed. “He’ll be evaluated and we’ll have conversations and progress as appropriate,” McDaniel said.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who has great respect for Tagovailoa, shared his thoughts after the game. “If you know Tua outside of football, you can’t help but feel for him,” Allen said. “He’s a great football player but he’s an even greater human being. He’s one of the best humans on the planet. I’ve got a lot of love for him and I’m just praying for him and his family, hoping everything’s OK. But it’s tough, man. This game of football that we play, it’s got its highs and its lows – and this is one of the lows.”

As Tagovailoa undergoes further evaluation and care, both the Dolphins and their fans will be eagerly awaiting updates on his condition, hoping for a positive outcome for the quarterback who has faced numerous challenges throughout his career.