Tua Tagovailoa, quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, left Thursday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals after suffering head and neck injuries on a sack in the second quarter.
Tagovailoa looked to have acute arm weakness after being sacked by Bengals nose tackle Josh Tupou, who caused him to strike the back of his head on the ground. About 10 minutes passed before he was brought off the field on a stretcher.
In a statement released just before halftime, the Dolphins reported that he was alert and moving all of his limbs at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. In the postgame press conference, it was reported that Tagovailoa will be discharged from the hospital that evening and return to Miami with the rest of the squad.
Tagovailoa reportedly shouted for his coach, Mike McDaniel, before collapsing.
McDaniel claimed, “It was obviously not the same person I was used to seeing.” “That was a terrifying second. We checked him out for a concussion. Despite being part of the concussion protocol, he is being released.
This is a very touching moment. There’s no agreement for it to happen. Myself and my teammates were worried sick, but he went to the hospital and was diagnosed with a concussion.
As Tagovailoa was brought off, the whole Dolphins squad congregated at middle to chants of “Tua!” Tua!”
Tagovailoa, who scored a touchdown in Sunday’s victory against the Buffalo Bills, was evaluated for concussion symptoms before halftime after falling and hitting his head. His back ailment was first blamed for his slip, but the club changed its mind and stated he would be OK to return. Towards the end of the week, Tagovailoa stated that he had passed all of his tests and was cleared to return to action.
After Tagovailoa’s rapid return to the game, the NFLPA asked for a review of the league’s concussion procedures.
The union’s primary goal is the protection of its members’ health and safety. This evening, all of our thoughts are with Tua, and we wish him a swift and complete recovery. After Tagovailoa got wounded on Thursday night, the NFLPA released a statement saying they were looking into a possible procedure breach.
When questioned if he was positive that Tagovailoa was not concussed following Sunday’s game, McDaniel responded in the affirmative and pointed out that Tagovailoa had been given the all-clear by a third-party neurologist.
Individuals seldom go off on tangents. No, we won’t tinker with it. McDaniel has stated, “That will never be an issue as long as I am the head coach.”
McDaniel responded, “Absolute zero patience for or will ever put a player in position for them to be in harm’s way,” when asked if there was anything he could have done better after the Bills game. That has nothing to do with who I am. Nothing that happens in a football game will make me act irresponsibly as a head coach.
Tagovailoa, 24, was uncertain to play on Thursday night due to a back issue that had plagued him for much of the week.
Tagovailoa threw for 110 yards and an interception on 8 of 14 passing before departing the game.
Tight end Tyreek Hill of the Dolphins noted that his teammates were inquiring how the quarterback was doing in the second half.
The game is important, but so is making sure your brother is okay, Hill added. “Football is merely a hobby for us, but the bond we have is unbreakable.”
In Tagovailoa’s stead, Teddy Bridgewater went 14 for 23 for 193 yards, a touchdown, and an interception as the Vikings were defeated 27-15. Skylar Thompson, a first-year quarterback for the Dolphins, saw action for his team for the first time.
Jaelan Phillips, a linebacker, found it impossible to put the experience of witnessing Tagovailoa carried out on a stretcher into a separate mental space.
I think that sums up football very well. Every day, we train ourselves to put things in their proper places. As a group, we adore Tua, so it’s not easy,” he admitted. “We tried to refocus, but it’s challenging.”