MIAMI GARDENS, Florida, USA (AP) — The Miami Dolphins have decided to place Tua Tagovailoa on the injured reserve list, after the quarterback was diagnosed with his third concussion in two years. Under this designation, the player will be sidelined for at least four games and could only return in Week 8, at the end of October, and only if he manages to complete a series of tests required by the NFL concussion protocol.
Tagovailoa was injured in the third quarter of last Thursday's game against the Buffalo Bills on a play in which he collided head-first with defensive rival Damar Hamlin instead of sliding. The player's body went stiff for a moment, a symptom typically associated with a brain injury.
Will Tagovailoa retire at 26 years old?
The University of Alabama player suffered the third concussion of his career and that is why several NFL leaders asked him to consider retiring from American football.
Since then, coach Mike McDaniel has asked to avoid speculations about the player's future and has emphasized that the team is more focused on Tagovailoa being healthy than on the implications of this new concussion for the Dolphins or his career.
Tagovailoa began the process of consulting with neurologists about his condition this week, amid reports that he has no plans to retire.
The player was diagnosed with two concussions in 2022 and also suffered another one during his college career at Alabama.
"He's doing well. I spoke with him and he's in good spirits," stated receiver Jaylen Waddle on Monday. "He has the team motivated, and everyone is praying for him in hopes that his health improves."
With Tua’s absence, the starting quarterback for the Dolphins, at least until Week 7, will be Skylar Thompson, who played two games with Miami in 2022.