Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered another scary head injury in Miami’s Week 2 loss to the Bills.
Tagovailoa put the Dolphins’ offense in the red zone in the third quarter, trying to cut into Buffalo’s three-touchdown lead. He ran on fourth-and-4 from the 13-yard line, battling to get at least a first down and maybe more.
Tagovailoa ducked his head when he was hit by Bills safety Damar Hamlin. His neck got caught on contact and the quarterback fell straight to the ground.
He remained on the ground for several minutes as players from both teams knelt around him. Tagovailoa did not return to the game.
How long will this injury keep Tagovailoa off the field? Jugo Mobile has you covered with the latest updates below.
What is Tua Tagovailoa’s injury?
Tagovailoa was diagnosed with a concussion, the third official concussion of his career.
Injury Update | Tua Tagovailoa has been ruled out with a concussion.
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) September 13, 2024
He eventually left the field under his own power before being taken to the medical tent. After being diagnosed with a concussion, Tagovailoa returned to the locker room and remained there for the remainder of the game.
Late in the fourth quarter, “Thursday Night Football” reporter Kaylee Hartung gave a positive update that Tagovailoa had control of all his extremities.
“He was in a good mood,” Head coach Mike McDaniel said of his starting quarterback after the game. “I was worried about my guy. It’s not something you want to be a part of.”
How long is Tua Tagovailoa out?
The Dolphins have officially placed Tagovailoa on injured reserve, but he still has no timetable for a return, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported.
“This is to give him enough time to progress through the concussion protocol and meet with outside neurologists,” Rapoport added.
THE #Dolphins are placing QB Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve due to the concussion he suffered Thursday night, in my opinion and @MikeGarafolo.
This is to give him enough time to progress through the concussion protocol steps and meet with external neurologists. pic.twitter.com/GgUK8ME2dg
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 17, 2024
The team confirmed his placement on injured reserve Tuesday afternoon. He could return no earlier than Week 8 against the Cardinals. Backup quarterback Skylar Thompson is expected to start against Seattle in Week 3.
Rapoport recently reported that Tagovailoa has “no plans” to retire from the sport.
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
Under the NFL’s concussion protocol, he must complete a series of steps to return to the field, and he is guaranteed to miss at least one game.
Given that this is the third official concussion of Tagovailoa’s career, expect the Dolphins to be extremely cautious with their star quarterback. Even after being placed on injured reserve, he will still have to clear concussion protocol before returning.
McDaniel initially denied to discuss a timetable for his return, saying that is not helpful. Instead, he shared that the Dolphins QB will have daily evaluations with experts.
How long is the NFL concussion protocol?
NFL players must go through several steps before being cleared to play by a doctor. Each phase takes a different amount of time depending on the severity of the concussion.
The timing may also differ depending on the case.
Here are the steps players must follow to exit concussion protocol:
Symptom of limited activity
During this phase, players are asked not to engage in excessive physical activity. They are expected to rest during this time and limit anything that could aggravate their symptoms. Afterward, players will be allowed to do limited stretching and light aerobic exercise, provided the team’s training staff supervises them.
Aerobic exercise
Players will begin working on cardio exercises, stretching and training, under the supervision of the team’s medical staff. After this phase, players will be able to begin working on balance tests.
Football Specific Exercise
In the third stage, players can participate in football-specific drills and begin working with the team for up to 30 minutes under supervision. Players can also increase their cardio workload.
Non-contact training exercises in the club
Players who reach stage four can begin throwing, catching, running, and participating in more position-specific activities. They can also continue to intensify their drills and training. By the end of this phase, players must have completed neurocognitive and balance testing.
Full football activity/authorization
The player must be cleared by the club doctor and the independent neurologist to return to full activity.
Dolphins 2024 Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time (ET)/Result | TV channel |
| 1 | September 8 | against the Jaguars | F, 20-17 | — |
| 2 | September 12 | against bills | L, 31-10 | — |
| 3 | September 22 | to the Seahawks | 4:05 p.m. | CBS |
| 4 | September 30 | vs. Titans (MNF) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| 5 | October 6 | at the Patriots | 1:00 p.m. | FOX |
| 6 | — | BYE | — | — |
| 7 | October 20 | at the Colts | 1:00 p.m. | FOX |
| 8 | October 27 | against the cardinals | 1:00 p.m. | FOX |
| 9 | November 3 | at Bills | 1:00 p.m. | CBS |
| 10 | November 11 | at the Rams (MNF) | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN |
| 11 | November 17 | against the Raiders | 1:00 p.m. | CBS |
| 12 | November 24 | against the Patriots | 1:00 p.m. | CBS |
| 13 | November 28 | at the Packers (Thanksgiving) | 8:20 p.m. | NBC/Peacock |
| 14 | December 8th | against the Jets | 1:00 p.m. | CBS |
| 15 | December 15 | among the Texans | 1:00 p.m. | CBS |
| 16 | December 22 | against 49eres | 4:25 p.m. | CBS |
| 17 | December 29 | at the Browns (SNF) | 8:20 p.m. | NBC/Peacock |
| 18 | January 5th | at the Jets | To be determined | To be determined |
