NFL
Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa to travel to Seattle for Week 3 game against the Seahawks
Tagovailoa was placed on injured reserve this week after suffering a third confirmed concussion in NFL against the Bills.
After a positive start to the 2024 NFL season against the Jacksonville Jaguars, things have gone south for the Miami Dolphins. Not only were they comfortably beaten by the Buffalo Bills in Week 2, but they lost quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to a concussion, his third since he started playing in the NFL.
On a first down in the third quarter, Tagovailoa’s helmet slammed into Damar Hamlin’s body and his head banged off the turf. It became immediately clear something had gone wrong for the Dolphins star, who raised his closed fist in the air, something characteristic of the involuntary - and somewhat alarming - “fencing response,” a common occurrence after some type of brain injury.
Players from both teams signalled to the sideline for assistance and the 26-year-old remained on the ground for two minutes before getting up and gingerly walking off the field.
After the game, head coach Mike McDaniel said Tagovailoa was “in good spirits,” but revealed the Dolphins would in no way be taking any chances with their quarterback. That appeared to be confirmed earlier this week, when the NFL Network reported the Hawaiian had been placed on injured reserve.
That means Miami will be without their starting QB for a minimum of four games, with Week 8 (the Dolphins have a bye in Week 6) the earliest that fans can expect to see Tagovailoa back on the field. Provided, of course, he passes the league’s strict concussion protocol.
When could Tua Tagovailoa play again for the Miami Dolphins?
Ahead of the Week 3 game against the Seahawks, McDaniel, via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, revealed that Tagovailoa would be travelling with the team to Seattle but insisted on X that he wasn’t already out of protocol or in the final stages of his recovery.
Tagovailoa therefore won’t be making a shock return to action in Week 3 and will be watching on from the sideline. However, McDaniel did offer the media a positive update on his player’s condition, saying he had been “very engaged” in team meetings and observing the team’s practices.
As it stands, Tagovailoa is set to miss the Dolphins’ games against the Seahawks, the Tennessee Titans, the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts. In Week 8, Miami face the Arizona Cardinals on October 27, the very earliest he could be back.