Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa not in concussion protocol, coach Mike McDaniel says

MIAMI — Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa just isn’t in concussion protocol because the workforce prepares for Thursday’s recreation in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals, head coach Mike McDaniel mentioned Monday.

Tagovailoa briefly left Sunday’s win over the Buffalo Payments and was evaluated for a concussion after hitting the again of his head on the bottom through the second quarter. He stumbled whereas attempting to jog again to the huddle after the play, prompting the Dolphins to guage him for a concussion on the sideline and finally within the locker room.

After the sport, each McDaniel and Tagovailoa mentioned it was the quarterback’s again that prompted him to stumble, not a head harm; Tagovailoa mentioned he felt like he “hyperextended” his again earlier within the recreation on a designed quarterback sneak, and it flared up late within the second quarter.

Tagovailoa mentioned he handed the league-mandated concussion protocol at halftime and was allowed to return to the sport.

Regardless of Tagovailoa’s and McDaniel’s feedback, the NFL Gamers Affiliation advised the NFL it needed a assessment of the league’s concussion protocol due to Tagovailoa’s fast return to the sport. Talking to reporters Monday afternoon, McDaniel mentioned the Dolphins will adjust to any league investigation and insisted that he wouldn’t have allowed his quarterback to be put in hurt’s method “if there have been any pink flags.”

“The one factor that our gamers know greater than anyone is there’s sure issues that I am very delicate to — I have been known as emotional on occasion — and a kind of issues is participant well being,” he mentioned. “I do not fiddle with that in any respect. Tua was fairly aggravated with me within the recreation as a result of he knew what damage and did not perceive why folks stored speaking to him about what we have been speaking to him about. I feel watching replays, he in all probability might.

“The pillar of significance for all of it’s participant security — that is why the protocols are in place. We’re comfortable to conform and I really feel high quality about that complete course of, actually.”

McDaniel additionally mentioned Monday that Tagovailoa was sore, as anticipated, and coping with ankle soreness in addition to again soreness from the sport.

He didn’t commit come what may so far as Tagovailoa’s availability for Thursday’s recreation however did say they’re nonetheless buying data and might be prepared for any state of affairs.

“It is my first time on a Thursday evening recreation with Tua so I do not assume something,” he mentioned. “So far as me with the ability to entry my crystal ball — it is damaged proper now. That is one of many the reason why you’ve a roster of succesful folks, that is why we introduced Teddy (Bridgewater) right here and drafted Skylar (Thompson). It’s a must to be prepared for these sort of changes. Similar to Teddy was prepared within the recreation, we’ll be prepared for no matter we’ve to take care of shifting ahead.

“These Thursday evening video games, you simply attempt to do one of the best you may. We’re attempting to get data as quick as attainable and we’ll be working fluidly from that. Proper now, not simply Tua, however there’s quite a lot of gamers that we’ll be adjusting to on the fly, seeing if they’ll flip it round and provides a wholesome outing on Thursday.”

Tagovailoa is at the moment the NFL’s second-leading passer and ranks second in yards per makes an attempt and first in QBR. He completed Sunday’s recreation with 186 passing yards and a landing on 13-of-17 passing.