The Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was stretchered off the field during a Thursday game against the Cincinnati Bengals due to suspected head and neck injuries, coming less than a week after a previous injury. According to the team, Tagovailoa is conscious, has full movement in his limbs, and was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. He is expected to be discharged from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and return to Miami with the team later that night. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed after the team’s 27-15 defeat that Tagovailoa had sustained a concussion, a form of traumatic brain injury from a head impact.
In the second quarter, Tagovailoa was sacked by Bengals defensive lineman Josh Tupou and remained motionless on the field for several minutes. The entire Dolphins sideline came onto the field while Tagovailoa was placed on a backboard and stretcher.
Bengals fans at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati showed their respect as Tagovailoa was carted off the field.
“It was a frightening moment,” McDaniel remarked after the game. “He was assessed for a concussion and is now in concussion protocol… That was a very emotional situation. It’s not something anyone expects, even though it’s a potential risk in footbe added, “All of his teammates and I were deeply worried.”
In a statement issued Thursday night, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) emphasized that player health and safety are central to their mission. They stated, “Our thoughts are with Tua tonight, and we hope for his full and swift recovery. We are continuing our investigation into a possible protocol violation.”
The incident follows another apparent head injury Tagovailoa sustained last Sunday during a game against the Buffalo Bills. He had left the game in the second quarter after a hit from linebacker Matt Milano caused his helmet to strike the ground. Tagovailoa stumbled and nearly lost his balance as he returned to the line of scrimmage. After being evaluated for a concussion and cleared, he returned to the field inthe third quarter
Later, the NFLPA informed the NFL that it plans to start an investigation into how Tagovailoa’s apparent head injury was managed. The Dolphins subsequently clarified that Tagovailoa had actually sustained a back injury, not a head injury.
Before tonight’s game, Tagovailoa was listed as questionable due to a back injury.
On Thursday, McDaniel defended the decision to let Tagovailoa play despite the prior injury, stating that an independent specialist in neurology had cleared him.
McDaniel emphasized, “As long as I’m coaching here, I won’t compromise on this issue. If there’s any sign of a concussion, the player will enter the concussion protocol. We take it very seriously, and under my watch, it will always be handled with utmost care.”
When asked if there was anything the team could have done differently following Tagovailoa’s injury on Sunday, McDaniel firmly replied, “absolutely not.”
On CNN’s New Day, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the network’s chief medical correspondent, described the incident from Thursday’s game as “really scary” and “very concerning,” particularly noting Tagovailoa’s hand gesture while he was on the ground.
Gupta remarked, “The video from last night clearly shows a significant injury. Tagovailoa remains on the ground for an extended period. The hand movement he exhibited is a serious sign that warrants attention.
“This movement can indicate a disruption in the pathways between the brain and spinal cord, even if temporary. And if that sounds serious, it is indeed serious.”
Gupta also noted that Tagovailoa showed signs of “gross motor instability” when he stumbled on the field during Sunday’s game against the Bills, suggesting he should not have been allowed to return under the NFL’s Concussion Protocol.
In a CNN interview on Friday, former NFL defensive end Jack Crawford expressed concern for Tagovailoa’s safety upon witnessing the incident. Crawford, who played for several NFL teams, told CNN Sport’s Amanda Davies, “My immediate thought was to hope he’s okay and that it’s not too serious.”
He added, “It’s part of the game, and the league is making efforts to monitor and prevent such situations. The game has improved in terms of protecting players and avoiding these scenarios.”
Crawford also mentioned that during his career, he observed players wanting to stay on the field despite injuries.
I’ve observed players who have had their ‘bell rung’ come to the sideline, visibly shaken but reluctant to draw attention from the doctors because they want to remain in the game.
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