Tua Tagovailoa's return to the field begins as he practices this Wednesday, advancing in the concussion protocol with hopes of playing in Week 8.
Tua Tagovailoa is set to make his comeback for the Miami Dolphins after being sidelined for several weeks due to a concussion. Head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed on Monday that the team will be activating the quarterback from injured reserve, according to ESPN.
Though Tagovailoa still needs to pass concussion protocol before being eligible to play in Week 8 against the Arizona Cardinals, he is expected to practice with the team on Wednesday, per CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones.
This week marks the earliest he can return, as it opens his 21-day practice window after being placed on injured reserve.
“I’ve been symptom-free since the next day [after the concussion],” Tagovailoa said, noting that medical experts advised him that additional rest would be beneficial.
By being placed on IR, he added, “I think [the Dolphins] did what was best in terms of protecting myself from myself.”
The 26-year-old quarterback was diagnosed with his fourth documented concussion in five years during the Dolphins’ Week 2 game against the Buffalo Bills. The injury happened when he collided with Bills safety Damar Hamlin while rushing for a first down.
Tagovailoa showed clear signs of a concussion, so the team ruled him out for the rest of the game and placed him in concussion protocol.
During his time on injured reserve, Tagovailoa consulted neurologists amid concerns about his long-term health. With his history of concussions, there was speculation about whether he would return to football or consider retirement. Despite the concerns, the former first-round pick reportedly wanted to continue his career.
Throughout his recovery, McDaniel was cautious about providing a timeline for Tagovailoa’s return. It wasn’t until last week that he indicated confidence that Tagovailoa would play again this season.
“I wasn’t paying attention to any of it,” Tagovailoa said when asked if he was aware of the public calls for him to retire. “None of it.”
Both Tua Tagovailoa and coach Mike McDaniel made it clear they share a similar mindset regarding the quarterback’s return.
“I don’t think, for myself, I put any pressure on myself coming back and having to save the team,” Tagovailoa said, later adding that the team must “look at ourselves and see what we can do to get better moving forward.”
McDaniel echoed this sentiment:
“It’s important to state — what I just finished talking to the team about is that he’s not the savior either. There’s a lot of things that have to be looked at from an individual’s game, and all three phases to get better because it’s not ‘All right, Tua is here, he’s going to fix the issues.’”
“Everyone has to be on board to do their part to getting results that we want.”
The takeaway: the Dolphins need to fix their own issues for Tagovailoa’s return to make a real impact. While the running game has improved, with back-to-back performances over 150 yards against the Patriots and Colts, other concerns remain.
The team struggled to get key players like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle involved, and there have been ongoing mental mistakes.
Tagovailoa’s return should help address some of these issues. His presence will certainly be an upgrade from Skylar Thompson, Tim Boyle, and Tyler Huntley, all of whom contributed to the Dolphins’ current status as the lowest-scoring team in the league.
As Tua Tagovailoa prepares to return from his third diagnosed concussion, he has decided not to wear a Guardian Cap, the protective headgear some NFL players are using this season.
While teammates like De’Von Achane have worn them, Tagovailoa has opted against it. “Nope,” he said during a Dolphins press conference on Oct. 21. “Personal choice.”
Tagovailoa has missed four games since suffering the concussion on Sept. 12 against the Buffalo Bills. His injury led some current and former players to suggest he should retire to avoid further head trauma.
“I appreciate your concern, I really do,” Tagovailoa said at the press conference. “I love this game, and I love it to the death of me. That’s it.”
This season marks the first time NFL players can choose to wear Guardian Caps during games, in addition to practices.
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