NFL
Why isn’t Tua Tagovailoa playing for the Dolphins against the Seahawks? NFL Week 3 injury status
Tagovailoa is out for the coming weeks at least, after sustaining his third confirmed concussion since he began playing in the NFL.
Tua Tagovailoa won’t play for the Miami Dolphins against the Seattle Seahawks today - and won’t return for at least a month - after the quarterback suffered a concussion in his team’s Week 2 defeat to the Buffalo Bills 10 days ago.
How did Miami QB get concussion?
Tagovailoa sustained the head injury in a collision with Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin, during the third quarter of the 31-10 loss at Hard Rock Stadium. It is the 26-year-old’s third confirmed concussion since joining the NFL in 2020; he also suffered two in the 2022 season.
Tagovailoa now on IR
On Tuesday, the Dolphins confirmed that they have placed Tagovailoa on the injured reserve list (IR), which means he will be unavailable to the Floridians for a minimum of four games. The earliest he could make his comeback would be Miami’s Week 8 match-up with the Arizona Cardinals on October 27.
“I think the great thing about IR is for a month’s time, there’s no timelines [on a player’s return],” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters on Wednesday. “I always say that but I’m not sure that people quite understand; if you set a timeline based upon the information you have today, how much of whatever goes on is fulfilling the prophecy of that timeline? And is that the right thing?
“Especially with competitors and stuff, sometimes you can do more harm than good. I think regardless, not worrying about anything as it relates to timelines is very empowering for him [Tagovailoa] as a human being to recover from injury, and that’s steadfast the only motivating factor that you have when you’re dealing with players and their careers and their injuries.”
Before being cleared to return to action, Tagovailoa must pass the NFL’s strict, five-step concussion protocol.
Who will replace Tagovailoa?
In Tagovailoa’s absence, back-up quarterback Skylar Thompson will start under centre for the Dolphins. After replacing the first-choice QB when he was withdrawn against the Bills, Thompson threw for 80 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions, and picked up four rushing yards.
In his press conference this midweek, McDaniel spoke of the team’s faith in Thompson’s ability to step into Tagovailoa’s shoes. “I think it’s very, very telling - I would encourage anyone to press their ear to the locker room door if they could, because you find out a lot about your team, about how people feel about other people in moments like this,” he said. “The confidence that the team has for Skylar is real and it’s earned, and it’s based upon thousands of hours that as a back-up quarterback most people don’t see.”
Dolphins vs Seahawks: start time, how to watch on TV/online
The NFL Week 3 clash between the Miami Dolphins and the Seattle Seahawks takes place today, Sunday September 22, 2024, at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. Kick-off is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET/1:05 p.m. PT, and viewers in the United States can watch the game on CBS. Your streaming options include the online platform fubo, which offers a free trial.
Enjoy the Dolphins vs the Seahawks live on fubo.
Miami head to Seattle with a 1-1 record so far in 2024, having preceded their defeat to the Bills with a 20-17 Week 1 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Seahawks are 2-0, following wins over the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots.