How is Dolphins’ quarterback Tua Tagovailoa doing after suffering a concussion against the Bengals?
After the harrowing scenes of Thursday night, the Dolphins and their fans can take comfort in the fact that their starting QB appears to be doing much better.
Though the Dolphins and their fans will likely not be unhappy with the loss against the Bengals on Thursday night, the one positive is that their QB is doing well following a severe head injury.
Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa is OK, but what happened?
On Thursday night, the Dolphins starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa - in addition to teammates and fans alike - suffered a very scary moment. Tagovailoa, who was actually listed as questionable ahead of what turned out to be a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, suffered a severe head and neck injury and was eventually carted off the field with what appeared to be a concussion. The Dolphins star would finally be flown to a nearby hospital, before being flown back to Miami with his teammates.
On the positive side of things, it’s understood that all initial scans involving Tagovailoa’s injuries have come back as negative with nothing broken. Though he did travel in a neck brace and will undergo an MRI, it is understood that Tagovailoa is in “good spirits.” Miami’s signal caller was also thankfully comforted by family at the hospital - obviously a positive - as well as on the flight back to Miami.
Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel addresses Tua Tagovailoa’s injury issues
In case you missed, it Tagovailoa’s health has actually been a topic of discussion since Miami’s win over Buffalo last Sunday. During that game, Tagovailoa was seen falling to the ground following a forceful blow towards the end of the first half. Though he did return to the game, the Dolphins later announced that he had in fact suffered a head injury. Strangely, the Dolphins then went on to say that it was a back an ankle injury that the QB had sustained.
It is within that context, that Tagovailoa was given the all clear to play against the Bengals on Thursday night. As one can imagine, there were understandably questions for Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel with regards to how the team handled their QB amidst reports of an NFLPA investigation into the matter. “That would be irresponsible in the first place, and I shouldn’t be in this position,” McDaniel said when asked if more could have been done about Tagovailoa’s situation. “I do not have any - absolutely zero - patience for, or will ever put a player in position for them to be in harm’s way. That is not what I’m about at all, and no outcome of a game will ever influence me being irresponsible as the head coach of the football team.”
What now for the Miami Dolphins?
Having stepped in to the mix on Thursday night, it goes without saying that veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will be expected to hold the fort in Tagovailoa’s absence. Incidentally, Bridgewater suffered his own scare last December when he was carted off the field in similar fashion following a concussion causing hit against the very same Bengals. To that end, Bridgewater explained the reservations he had watching the scenario unfold and ultimately what it took to focus on the game after the scary moment.
“I knew that I had to just snap (out of it) and try to lead this team to victory,” said Bridgewater, who threw for 193 yards, a touchdown and one interception. “Knowing that so many guys were counting on not only myself but us to just go out there and finish that game and trying to get a win. Ultimately, we came up short.”