Tua Tagovailoa exited the second half of Thursday Night Football with a head injury after a first-down scramble against the Bills. The Miami Dolphins struggled in their matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Down 31-10 nearing the fourth quarter, Miami sought to cut the lead to just two possessions. On a scramble to convert a fourth down in the red zone, Tua ran into Bills defender Demar Hamlin.
Instantly there was a clear problem, as Tua Tagovailoa lay unresponsive with a clenched fist on the Hard Rock Stadium turf. Given his history with concussions, it was hard not to know what the issue was.
Tua Tagovailoa Head Injury vs. Bills Diagnosed as a Concussion
Shortly following Tua Tagovailoa’s injury during Miami’s 31- 10 defeat to the Bills, the team confirmed a concussion.
My thought was concern, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel told reporters postgame when asked for his thoughts when he saw Tagovailoa on the ground. I was just worried about my guy. It’s not something that you ever want to be a part of. You hope not to.
After the game, concerns about Tua Tagovailoa’s future resurfaced due to his injury history. However, Coach McDaniel emphasized that the Dolphins’ priority right now is his health.
You know, right now it’s more about getting a proper procedural evaluation (Friday), and taking it one day at a time, McDaniel said. The furthest thing from my mind is, you know, what is the timeline? We just need to evaluate and just worried about my teammate like the rest of the guys are. We’ll get more information (Friday), and then take it day by day from there.
Tua Tagovailoa’s History Of Concussions
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Drafted in 2020, Tua Tagovailoa has already withstood multiple concussions in his short NFL career. Tagovailoa suffered two concussions early in the 2022 season, starting with a Week 3 game against the Bills, where he hit his head and stumbled after the play. Days later, he sustained another concussion during a Thursday Night Football game against the Bengals. The NFLPA later fired the independent doctor who cleared him to return. A third concussion in Week 16 against the Packers forced him to miss the final two regular season games and a playoff game.
Tua’s experience in the ’22’ season changed how the NFL identified and reported concussions going forward. He took the offseason recovering from his brain injuries and learning how to prevent them. Impressively, Tua came back in 2023 to throw for 4,624 yards in 2023, leading the league in passing yards.
What Is A Concussion
Concussions are a form of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) caused by a hard impact or quick jolt to the head. In football, concussions often occur from hard tackles, helmet-to-helmet collisions, or a player’s head hitting the ground. Symptoms come in many forms including headaches, confusion, and memory loss. Recovery typically takes days to weeks depending on the severity. Because football is a high-contact sport, players are especially susceptible to concussions, which is why head injuries are a major concern in the NFL.
Repeated concussions can lead to long-term issues for football players. With each concussion, the risk of developing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) increases—a progressive brain disease associated with cognitive decline, memory problems, and mood disorders. Due to the sensitive nature of the brain, CTE cannot be diagnosed in someone alive. A 2023 Boston University report found cases of CTE in 345 of 376 deceased NFL players.
Players like Tua Tagovailoa who suffer multiple concussions may experience prolonged recovery times, worsened symptoms, and an increased likelihood of future head injuries. As a result, the NFL has implemented stricter protocols and has invested millions into developing helmet technology. However, the long-term effects of repeated head trauma remain a serious issue in the sport.
Final Thoughts
For his own health, Tua Tagovailoa should never play another down of NFL football. Given the risks of concussions and CTE on quality of life and longevity, Tua cannot afford further brain damage. Similar to Andrew Luck’s early retirement with the Indianapolis Colts, Tua’s health needs him to retire from football.
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