Some NFL plays will stay with you forever. Most of them are good, like when your favorite player scores a big touchdown or your team wins the Super Bowl. Others are bad, like when Damar Hamlin collapsed on the turf in 2023.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa can impress with his throwing ability. Unfortunately, the young QB has already suffered several significant injuries during his NFL career. Tagovailoa has a history of concussions and has had plays where he got up and tried to get away but couldn’t, and others where the camera zoomed in on him and his hands were shaking and curled up.
Tagovailoa and the Dolphins will face the Buffalo Bills in Week 2 of Thursday Night Football. The Miami quarterback struggled in the game, but did his best to give this team a first down in the third quarter by going for a run. Tagovailoa should have slipped but instead went headfirst, trying to gain more yards, and nearly collided with Hamlin’s shoulder, helmet first.
Tua and Damar Hamlin collide. Tua is currently on the field. #BUFvsMIA pic.twitter.com/4QxhAhouGe
— Rate the refs app (@Rate_the_Refs) September 13, 2024
Tagovailoa was taken to the sideline and was able to walk off on his own. He returned to the locker room and was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game with a concussion.
How many concussions has Tua Tagovailoa had?
It took the team six minutes to rule Tagovailoa out for the remainder of the Week 2 game. It was explicitly ruled a concussion, marking the third official concussion of his career.
College career at Alabama
Tagovailoa is no stranger to injuries. He suffered multiple ankle injuries and a nasty hip injury while playing for the Crimson Tide. While Tagovailoa was never diagnosed with a concussion in college, analysts who followed him don’t rule out that he had at least one.
Week 3, 2022 vs. Bills
Tagovailoa hit the ground hard before halftime of the game. He was thought to have suffered a concussion from the impact, so viewers were surprised to see him return to the game in the second half. Tagovailoa had passed concussion protocol and was instead suffering from back spasms.
Tua Tagovailoa heads to the locker room after this hit from Matt Milano
Prayers in the air ?pic.twitter.com/u3cSEQpeKq
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 25, 2022
Week 4, 2022 vs. Bengals
Tagovailoa suffered his first concussion in Week 4 of the 2022 season, although many believe he had suffered one the week before as well. In Week 4, Tagovailoa and Miami faced the Cincinnati Bengals. Tagovailoa was injured in the second quarter and had to be taken off on a stretcher. It was a Grade 1 concussion.
Scary injury from last night’s game as Tua Tagovailoa leaves the game on a stretcher.
Tua showed clear symptoms of a concussion just 4 days ago during the Bills game.
He should never have played last night. pic.twitter.com/8VSpbJCX3d
— American Football International (@AFIReview) September 30, 2022
Week 16, 2022 vs. Packers
A few weeks later, he returned to play against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tagovailoa played for most of the season, but suffered another concussion against the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day. Once a second concussion was confirmed, he was sidelined for the remainder of the season, a few more weeks. It was a Grade 3 concussion.
This appears to be the play in which Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa was injured, when his head hit the ground. pic.twitter.com/zCQXadHm2r
–Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 26, 2022
Every concussion is a serious concussion, but it seems that they get worse the more you get. One of the most high-profile concussion retirees in recent memory was Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Keuchly. He was at the peak of his career and retired after his third concussion.
Dolphins fans hope Tagovailoa doesn’t have to follow suit.
