Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel isn’t focused on when Tua Tagovailoa might return to the field following his concussion during Thursday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Speaking with reporters on Friday, McDaniel shared that, while walking Tagovailoa off the field, he told him, “you’re the starting quarterback of your family,” emphasizing the importance of his well-being over football.
Tagovailoa was injured late in the third quarter after scrambling for a first down on a fourth-and-4 play. He lowered his head, colliding with Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s chest. The impact caused Tagovailoa to fall hard, hitting the back of his head on the turf. He was diagnosed with a concussion and replaced by Skylar Thompson for the remainder of the game.
This marks the third diagnosed concussion for Tagovailoa since entering the NFL in 2020. His first two concussions occurred during the 2022 season, including one in Week 16 against the Green Bay Packers. In that game, he played the entire match, but McDaniel later explained that it was only upon reviewing the tape that the coaching staff noticed concerning signs that led them to seek medical attention for him.
That concussion caused Tagovailoa to miss the final two regular-season games, as well as Miami’s AFC Wild Card loss to the Bills.
Tagovailoa started every game last season for the first time in his career, leading the NFL with 4,624 passing yards and setting a career-high with 29 touchdown passes. If he’s unable to play in the upcoming game, Skylar Thompson is expected to start for the Dolphins against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3.
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