Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered his third career concussion yesterday night. After a collision with Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin and hitting the back of his head on the ground, Tagovailoa was removed from the game and diagnosed with a concussion. According to WSVN, he remained on the field for about two minutes before he was able to walk to the sidelines.
During the third quarter incident, the seriousness became clear when Bills players and Dolphins center Aaron Brewer called for medical help. Despite the situation, Tagovailoa managed to smile as he walked to the locker room, as reported by WPTV. The Dolphins quickly announced that he had sustained a concussion. This injury adds to Tagovailoa's history of concussions, including two from last season and one from his college days at Alabama.
Tagovailoa, who earned a substantial pay raise with an injury-free 2023 season where he led the league with 4,624 yards and 29 touchdowns, is now sidelined indefinitely. His four-year, $212 million extension made him one of the highest-paid players in the league. Skylar Thompson replaced Tagovailoa after his exit from the Dolphins-Bills game, according to WSVN.
Josh Allen of the Bills praised him, "He's a great football player but he's an even greater human being. He's one of the best humans on the planet. I've got a lot of love for him and I'm just praying for him and his family, hoping everything's OK. But it's tough, man. This game of football that we play, it's got its highs and it's got its lows — and this is one of the lows." Earlier in April 2023, Tagovailoa had already been considering stepping away from football to protect his health, according to WPTV.
Tagovailoa's latest concussion raises ongoing concerns about NFL player safety and the long-term effects of repeated head injuries. The NFL's updated concussion protocol now requires any player showing symptoms, such as lack of balance, to be sidelined for the rest of the game.
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