After a 2022 season in which he suffered two confirmed concussions and most likely three head injuries, Tua Tagovailoa considered retirement. The Dolphins quarterback’s latest concussion brought calls for him to revisit that effort, but that has not taken place.
Indicating he has been symptom-free since the day after his Week 2 concussion, Tagovailoa said he did not consider retirement following the Bills matchup and has spoken with “several” neurologists about his recovery. Players rarely land on IR due to concussions, illustrating the concern the Dolphins have for their centerpiece player. Week 8 marks Tagovailoa’s first chance to come back, and signs are pointing to a return — one that would give Miami a way out of its Tua-less quagmire and invite more concerns about his long-term health.
Adding to potential worries about the left-hander’s future, he will not wear a Guardian Cap upon returning. A handful of players have exercised the right to wear the practice caps during games, which the NFL began permitting this year. Most have resisted, and Tua is now among the majority despite his history with concussions.
Mike McDaniel said (via ESPN.com’s Marcel Louis-Jacques) the call to move Tagovailoa to IR came at the advice of medical personnel. That alone should trip alarms, but we heard early during the fifth-year passer’s recovery a return was expected this season. The Dolphins have a significant issue on their hands, with the offense’s struggles in the starter’s absence — to the point the team has ground to make up for a playoff return — persisting regardless of which backup option the team used. Balancing this with Tagovailoa’s long-term health will be a line McDaniel and Co. will need to continue walking.
Tagovailoa said he spent time throwing during his IR stay, indicating (via NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe) he has done so for around a month. That would cover most of the time he has been out. The recently extended passer admitted frustration with being placed on IR, and SI.com’s Albert Breer expects him to return Sunday.
Retirement would have largely scuttled the massive extension Tagovailoa signed in July. In order to stay on track to secure the money from his four-year, $212.4MM extension ($167.2MM split between full and injury guarantees), the Alabama alum will need to keep playing. A retirement after passing a Dolphins physical would change the game, and it does not appear that will be on the table for the now-highly paid QB.
Of course, the Dolphins will be navigating concerns about Tua protection for the foreseeable future — perhaps for his entire Miami stay. This calls into question the team’s decision to make their starter part of the NFL’s $50MM-AAV club. Then again, Tagovailoa has run McDaniel’s offense effectively for two seasons. The Dolphins redeploying their starter will stand to reignite an offense that has slunk to last place in scoring and 22nd in total offense. Miami ranked second in scoring and led the league in yardage during the 2023 season, one in which Tua played 17 games and placed himself in position for the lucrative payday.
I hope he comes back and crushes it. Stay healthy young man and best of luck.
He should seriously consider retirement, not only for the effects these multiple concussions will have on himself in the long term but also as it relates to his interactions with his loved ones. Once this kind of physical damage has been done, there is no going back.
Not a doctor and genuinely have no idea but is the “fencing” response indicative of a more severe concussion? Or is this just how Tua responds to concussions?
Concussions are bad, of course, but what I’m getting at is, “is Tua in a different position than any other player?”
People need to mind their own damn business. It’s Tua’s body and his decision. Go virtue signal someplace else.
I disagree. The Dolphins and the NFL have a responsibility to oversee the health and safety of all of their players.
The people who comment on this board don’t work for the NFL or the Dolphins.
If the nfl cared then they wouldn’t have let Hamlin ever play again after almost dying on the field during a game.