The NFLPA’s investigation into the handling of Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa last Sunday is still ongoing, but its first major development appears to have taken place. The union has terminated the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant who was among the personnel who cleared Tagovailoa to return to the Week 3 game against the Bills, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. 

Tagovailoa notably stumbled after a hit from Bills linebacker Matt Milano, but ultimately cleared concussion protocol and finished the contest. Not long after the game, it was revealed that the NFLPA would open a formal investigation into the team’s compliance with NFL policies regarding concussion checks; of particular importance was the matter of whether Tagovailoa’s imbalance was neurologically caused, something which would have disqualified him from being allowed to return.

That process involved interviews with both the UNC and the Dolphins’ team physician, which took place yesterday (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero). Per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, the former was found to have made “several mistakes” while clearing Tagovailoa to return in the second half of Sunday’s game (Twitter link). Both the Alabama alum himself and head coach Mike McDaniel remarked that a back injury was the cause of his discomfort, though he was tested for concussion symptoms every day in the build-up to Thursday’s matchup against the Bengals.

In that game, Tagovailoa’s head hit the turf after being sacked, and he was carted off the field and taken to a local hospital. Since diagnosed with a concussion, the injury (and the questions surrounding his health leading up to the game) has led NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith to threaten legal action against the medical personnel involved in this situation.

The fact that the UNC has been fired stands in stark contrast to the early indication that the Dolphins were fully compliant with league protocols. Further investigation will take place, though the emphasis will remain on the actions of those involved, as opposed to the strength of the protocols themselves (Twitter link via Mark Maske of the Washington Post). With the final outcome of the probe set to be made public, more is yet to come in this story.

9:50pm: There were a number of updates throughout the first full day following the second in-game injury to Tagovailoa. Just after noon today, McDaniel informed the media that Tagovailoa was experiencing a headache and, as an extra precaution, was taken to undergo another MRI, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Jackson updated his followers following the testing that revealed “nothing serious/alarming.” He went on the clarify that while every head injury is a serious concern, there was “nothing discovered in testing that would create new concerns about whether he should resume playing football,” noting that, right now, the only barrier to Tagovailoa’s return to the field is the NFL’s five-step concussion protocol.

Retired center and second-term NFLPA President J.C. Tretter released a statement on Twitter around midday today. He explained that the Players Association initiated their investigation because Tagovailoa was permitted to return despite displaying what Tretter called “‘no-go’ symptoms.” He went on to say that, while there admittedly is not “an objective and validated method” for diagnosing brain injuries, the league should err on the side of caution and player safety and work towards eliminating the potential for human error.

The chief medical officer of the NFL, Dr. Allen Sills, laid out what he knew of Tagovailoa’s treatment before the Thursday night game, according to Tom Pelissero and Judy Battista of NFL Network. He explained that Tagovailoa “was checked for concussion symptoms every day” from Sunday until the game on Thursday and that an “independent neuro expert had to clear him.” The NFLPA will verify this information and use it to inform their determinations. Pelissero added that once the review has concluded, “the results will be released publicly.”

8:58am: Tua Tagovailoa was at the heart of controversy and speculation heading into last night’s game, and his health status remains a major talking point today. The Dolphins QB was sacked, then suffered a head injury which left him on the ground for several minutes. He was ultimately stretchered off the field and taken to a local hospital, where he was alert and had full movement in his extremities. 

The episode would have been noteworthy in its own regard, but was doubly so given the hit Tagovailoa sustained on Sunday which caused him to stumble and briefly leave the game. The team’s handling of his situation has since become the subject of an NFLPA investigation, which is ongoing. While it appears at this point that the Dolphins correctly followed concussion protocol in that instance, the fact that the 24-year-old suffered a major injury after playing on a short week has drawn the ire of the player’s union.

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith texted a message to current and former association members, via Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, which reads, “We insisted on these rules to avoid exactly this scenario. We will pursue every legal option, including making referrals against the doctors to licensing agencies and the team that is obligated to keep our players safe.”

When asked about the potential connection between the two injuries and the team’s decision to play Tagovailoa in spite of the quick turnaround, head coach Mike McDaniel reiterated his confidence in the Alabama product’s recovery from Sunday’s game and the team’s compliance with concussion-related procedures. He said, via NFL.com’s Grant Gordon, “I don’t think that an injury from last week made him fall the same way this week, but yeah, I do not have any, like absolutely zero patience for, or will ever put a player in position for them to be in harm’s way.

“There’s an independent specialist that specializes in specialty brain matter, so for me, as long as I’m coaching here, I’m not going to fudge that whole situation… People don’t vary or stray [from protocol]; we don’t mess with that, we never have as long as I’ve been head coach, so it’d never be an issue that you guys have to worry about.”

Tagovailoa travelled back to Miami with the team while wearing a neck brace, per Josina Anderson of CBS Sports (Twitter link). She adds that initial scans showed nothing broken in his neck or spine, and that he will undergo an MRI after arrival. While his short-and long-term recovery timetable will be worth monitoring, this situation will also be underscored by other storylines for the foreseeable future.

Tua Tagovailoa will be under center tonight when the Dolphins take on the Bengals. The team announced on Twitter that Tua will be active for Thursday Night Football.

[RELATED: Latest On NFL’s Investigation Into Handling Of Tua Tagovailoa]

Tagovailoa has been dealing with back and ankle injuries stemming from Miami’s Week 3 win over the Bills, with the QB later admitting that his back has been most troublesome. He went through limited practices on Tuesday and Wednesday in preparation for tonight’s game.

Tua was injured while attempting a QB sneak on Sunday, and he exited the game on the next play after Matt Milano shoved him to the ground. The QB hit his head and stumbled on to the field before heading for the sideline, prompting him to enter concussion protocol. He ended up returning and finishing the game, and while the NFL’s subsequent investigation is ongoing, it appears that the organization followed the proper protocols.

The 24-year-old has lived up to expectations during his third season in the NFL. Through three weeks, Tagovailoa has compiled 925 passing yards, eight touchdown passes, and only two interceptions while guiding Miami to a 3-0 start.

If Tua was forced to miss any time, the Dolphins would be in good position to temporarily replace his spot in the lineup after inking Teddy Bridgewater this offseason. Seventh-round rookie Skylar Thompson is also on the active roster, and it sounds like all three QBs will be active for tonight’s game.

The NFLPA investigation of the Dolphins, related to their handling of Tua Tagovailoa‘s concussion protocol, is ongoing. This process is expected to last a week or two, according to NFL executive VP Jeff Miller, who adds (via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, on Twitter) there is every indication the team followed the protocol.

Although Tagovailoa’s quick return to action against the Bills sparked the union’s inquiry, he is not a lock to face the Bengals on Thursday. The Dolphins have listed their starting quarterback as questionable for Week 4 with back and ankle issues; Tagovailoa went through limited practices Tuesday and Wednesday. He said Tuesday the back issue has caused him more problems.

Tua said it felt like he hyperextended his back during a quarterback sneak Sunday, and Matt Milano shoving him to the turf on the next play produced a head hit and post-play stumble that sent him into the protocol. The third-year passer blamed the noticeable stumble on the back injury.

Mike McDaniel said postgame Tua navigated concussion protocol, but the talented southpaw added (via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson) that his back “started to lock up” on him during the second half against the Bills. McDaniel is optimistic Tagovailoa will play against the Bengals; the Alabama alum called his new HC late Monday night to discuss his status.

Even if the investigation clears the Dolphins, their quarterback continues to run into injury trouble. The severe hip injury Tagovailoa suffered late in his junior year affected his draft stock, though not much as it turned out. In the Dolphins’ home Bills matchup last year, Tua sustained rib fractures that sent him to IR. Thumb and finger maladies have also sidelined Tagovailoa for a game apiece during his Miami stay.

The team has a highly capable backup in Teddy Bridgewater, who worked as a starter (with the Panthers and Broncos) over the past two seasons. Bridgewater, 29, took three snaps in relief of Tagovailoa in Week 3. While Bridgewater is a seasoned option, Tagovailoa is having the best stretch of his short career. After his 469-yard, six-touchdown day against the Ravens, he averaged 10.3 yards per attempt on 72% passing in Sunday’s injury-bisected game. Leading the Dolphins to the AFC’s lone 3-0 record, the oft-questioned passer ranks first in QBR entering Week 4.