Tua Tagovailoa anticipated to be interviewed as a part of NFL-NFLPA investigation into QB’s fast return from harm, sources say

Tua Tagovailoa is anticipated to be interviewed early subsequent week within the NFL and NFL Gamers Affiliation’s joint investigation of the injured Miami Dolphins quarterback’s fast return to final weekend’s sport towards the Buffalo Payments, sources advised ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The league and the gamers’ indicated Saturday that their overview is ongoing, whereas additionally including they agree that “modifications to the concussion protocol are wanted to boost participant security.”

A league official advised Schefter that the investigation is anticipated to final one other week or two, and the outcomes will likely be introduced “nearly instantly after.”

Tagovailoa additionally is anticipated to return to the Dolphins’ facility Monday, sources advised Schefter, as he continues to undergo the concussion protocol after the scary head harm that pressured him to depart this previous Thursday evening’s sport towards the Cincinnati Bengals. Photographs of Tagovailoa’s mind are being despatched to 3 impartial docs to acquire as many second opinions as doable about his situation.

Tagovailoa initially appeared to exhibit concussion signs after the hit to his head late within the first half of Miami’s Week 3 residence sport towards Buffalo, however he was cleared by a group doctor and an unaffiliated neurotrauma advisor to return within the second half. Tagovailoa and the group later defined his legs had been wobbly due to a again harm.

After the hit on Thursday, when 6-foot-3, 340-pound Bengals defensive sort out Josh Tupou slammed him backward into the turf, Tagovailoa’s palms froze up and his fingers flexed awkwardly in entrance of his facemask for a number of seconds as he laid on the turf in Cincinnati. He remained on the bottom for a number of minutes till he was taken away on a stretcher and despatched to a hospital. He was launched from the hospital and flew residence with the Dolphins hours later.

It is unknown whether or not there’s any correlation between the 2 accidents. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel mentioned Friday that Tagovailoa will likely be out indefinitely.

The NFLPA fired the unaffiliated neurotrauma advisor on Saturday, saying in a joint assertion with the league that they “anticipate modifications to the protocol being made within the coming days primarily based on what has been realized so far within the overview course of.” A number of sources advised ESPN that the firing got here after it was discovered the advisor made “a number of errors” in his analysis of Tagovailoa.

There are three unaffiliated neurotrauma consultants (UNC) at every sport; they’re collectively paid by the league and the gamers’ union to work with group physicians to diagnose concussions. The NFLPA and the league every have the suitable to fireside a UNC with out settlement from the opposite get together.

McDaniel has defended the Dolphins’ dealing with of Tagovailoa’s harm towards the Payments, when he took successful from linebacker Matt Milano and appeared to knock his head on the turf. McDaniel reiterated Friday that Tagovailoa was cleared by a number of layers of medical professionals throughout that sport and mentioned the third-year quarterback didn’t have a head harm, which is why he was not within the concussion protocol heading into Thursday’s sport.

ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques and The Related Press contributed to this report.