Losing 31-10 to their hated rivals, the Buffalo Bills, is all Miami Dolphins fans need to feel bad. Worst yet, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s physical well-being is in limbo after suffering a concussion that forced him out of that Thursday Night Football matchup.
Ironically, Tagovailoa absorbed another concussion while running into Damar Hamlin, the defensive back who had a near-fatal experience during the 2022 season. Concussion Legacy Foundation and neuroscientist Chris Nowinski knew something was wrong upon collision because Tagovailoa’s hand curled into a fist while his arm went straight into the air. Those gestures indicate loss of consciousness, which often happens with an athlete dealing with a concussion.
Prayers for Tua Tagovailoa. Note his right hand balling into a fist and his arm going straight in the air. That's posturing and a sign of loss of consciousness and a #concussion. Certainly out for the game. So sad. pic.twitter.com/e6wYIDVaZa
— Chris Nowinski, Ph.D. (@ChrisNowinski1) September 13, 2024
Unfortunately, it’s not the first time Tagovailoa dealt with a concussion throughout his NFL career. After the Dolphins’ 2023 Week 3 game against the Bills, the NFL Players Association suspected them of violating concussion protocols with their starting quarterback. A week later, he manifested some symptoms of a person dealing with a concussion following a tackle by Cincinnati Bengals nose tackle Josh Tupou.
Tagovailoa also sat out the Dolphins’ last two regular season games of 2022 after suffering a concussion during their Christmas Day game versus the Green Bay Packers. While Tagovailoa considered retirement before the 2023 season due to his injuries the previous year, he played on and finished with a league-leading 4,624 passing yards and 29 touchdowns.
Unfortunately, his latest concussion will add fire to the banter that he should leave the game as a player for good. Continuing his career might do more harm than good, especially the long-term repercussions of head injuries.
His decision will affect the four-year, $212.4 million contract extension he signed last July. As Spotrac’s Michael Ginnitti pointed out, he won’t have access to the remaining $124 million injury guaranteed money if he decides to retire after being medically cleared to play. Conversely, he can collect that amount if the medical findings force him to retire.
Regardless of the outcome, the Dolphins will return to square one in finding a franchise quarterback. They thought they had one after Tagovailoa’s breakout season. Sadly, the cruel twist of fate could leave them a complex void to fill.
-Lance Fernandez