What do we know about Tagovailoa’s concussion?
By late Thursday and early Friday, all anyone could truly determine with certainty was that he had suffered a concussion. There is no estimated time frame for the Dolphins’ evaluation of his condition, which started in earnest on Friday.
He has been added to the NFL’s concussion protocol and, before he or the Dolphins can consider his return to the field, he must pass a number of exams and evaluations.Coach Mike McDaniel announced on Friday that the Dolphins would add a new quarterback since they anticipate losing Tagovailoa for an extended length of time.
According to the NFL, “Every player and every concussion is unique” in the protocol rules’ introduction. As a result, neither the return to involvement nor the advancement through the phases of the graduated exertion program outlined below have an established timetable. Each player will recover at a different pace.
What is Tagovailoa’s injury history?
In 2022, he was diagnosed with two concussions, plus one from his time as an Alabama player.
There have been numerous other problems, some of which were serious while I was in college. He underwent surgery in October 2019 at Alabama to treat a high ankle sprain, which kept him out of action for one game. A month later, during a game against Mississippi State, Tagovailoa suffered a dislocated right hip, ending his college career early.
In addition to concussions, Tagovailoa has experienced rib fractures, thumb injuries, and a fractured middle finger on his throwing hand during his professional career.
He disclosed in April 2023 that following his two concussions in the 2022 season, he had a conversation with his family about whether it was prudent to resume playing.
What are players saying about Tagovailoa?
As can be expected, there are a variety of responses, but many former players who are now commentators advise him to really consider his long-term health and determine whether playing football is still wise.
Long-time friend and ‘little brother’ Manti Te’o, a former linebacker, expressed his desire to see Tagovailoa leave the field following his concussion in Cincinnati in 2022. In addition to what his parents had to go through on Thursday night, he expressed that he is considering Tagovailoa’s long-term capacity to raise his own children.
Te’o appeared to hold back tears as he remarked, “After he suffered the one against the Bengals, I wanted him to walk,” on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” on Friday. People need to realise that this is only a game. And life comes after that.
On social media, former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III added, echoing the sentiments of countless others: “Think of the person not just the player.”
Even more bluntly, former receiver Dez Bryant stated that the NFL should step in at this point. Bryant wrote, “That’s it. NFL, go ahead and do the right thing.” “Totua has suffered far too many concussions… Due to health worries over his longevity, he must retire.
Later, Antonio Pierce, the coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, reiterated this position, saying he thought Tagovailoa should take care of his family and not put himself at danger of getting hurt again.
On Friday, McDaniel was quite clear that he only wanted Tagovailoa to get well and that he had no interest in making any predictions about his future. A $212 million, four-year contract extension with Tagovailoa will start in the 2025 campaign.
Have players retired because of concussions?
There have been a few documented cases of athletes retiring due to concerns about concussions; these players were at different phases of their careers when they took this decision.
Luke Kuechly of the Carolina Panthers is arguably the most well-known example. At the height of his career, he was 28 years old and a three-time All-Pro, despite suffering three concussions in three seasons. Among those concussions was one from a 2016 game where he sobbed while playing. Since then, he has promoted awareness and security.
— After 11 seasons, Frank Wycheck, the Tennessee Titans standout who is most known for throwing the lateral on the “Music City Miracle” play, retired from the game due to “lingering effects” of “physical stuff,” which included two concussions in the 2003 campaign. After that season, he announced his retirement, declared he was positive he had CTE in a 2017 televised appearance, and passed away in December of last year following a fall at home.
Jordan Reed played tight end for seven seasons with Washington and San Francisco until retiring in 2021 at the age of thirty-one, citing concussions. He said that physicians had told him it would not be wise to keep playing.
— Kylie Fitts retired in 2022 at the age of 27. “Due to too many concussions… it is no longer safe for me to continue to play,” the former linebacker for Arizona stated at the time.
— Chris Borland, then just 24 years old, announced his retirement from the NFL after just one season, citing fears of brain trauma.
