After the game, a few players claimed to have seen Tagovailoa in the locker room and were inspired. After the game, Tagovailoa talked with a few players before leaving for home, according to McDaniel.
The quarterback Skylar Thompson, who took over for Tagovailoa following the injury, said of Tua, “I have a lot of love for him, built a great relationship with him.” “Everyone in the organisation would agree that you care more about the person than the player. I’m sincerely hoping that Tua will be okay and praying for her.
Before the season, Tagovailoa inked a four-year, $212 million contract that puts him among the highest-paid players in the NFL. In Week 1, of this season, he led the league in passing. The Dolphins were behind 31-10 when Tagovailoa left. That was the final score.
“You can’t help but feel for Tua if you know him outside of football,” quarterback Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills remarked on Amazon after the game. “Aside from being a fantastic football player, he’s an even better person. He is among the best people on the earth. He has my undying love, and I’m just hoping and praying that everything works out for him and his family. But gosh, it’s hard. This is one of the low points in the football game we play, which has its high points and low points.
Although Tagovailoa’s undergraduate career and his first three NFL seasons were hampered by injuries, he set himself up for a significant pay increase in 2023 by leading the Dolphins into the postseason and playing a healthy and productive game. Last year, he passed for a league-high 4,624 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Nobody knows for sure when or if he will be able to return this season. In April of 2023, Tagovailoa stated that he was thinking about his playing career after suffering concussions in the 2022 campaign. When asked if he had thought of quitting the game to protect himself, he replied, “I think I considered it for a time.”
According to McDaniel, it is not his position to advise Tagovailoa to rejoin the football team. McDaniel stated, “He’ll be evaluated, and we’ll have conversations and progress as appropriate.”
With roughly 4:30 remaining in the third quarter on Thursday, Tagovailoa was injured on a fourth-down keeper. Instead of sledding, he entered Hamlin head-on and led with his right shoulder.
After making a tackle during a Monday night game in January 2023 at Cincinnati, Hamlin went into cardiac arrest. This led to the NFL suspending a crucial game that rapidly became meaningless in the wake of a terrifying incident that was shown live throughout the country.
After landing on his back with both hands raised, Tagovailoa was pointed at by Bills teammates, seemingly indicating a possible injury. Aaron Brewer of the Dolphins promptly followed suit and waved to the sideline.
Tagovailoa was on the ground, looking like he was making a fist with his right hand. The movement was in line with what is known as the “fencing response,” which is frequently seen following a traumatic brain injury.
Eventually, Tagovailoa stood up. As Tagovailoa left, McDaniel kissed him on the cheek and grabbed the side of his quarterback’s head. Thompson entered the game to replace Tagovailoa.
NFL star Von Miller of the Bills stated, “I love Tua on and off the football pitch.” “I adore him so much. I understand and feel sorry for him, as I have been in his shoes. I hope the best for him.
The narrative of Tagovailoa’s career revolves heavily around his past with concussions and his subsequent efforts to prevent them. This information is now brought to light once more.
He suffered two or more concussions in the 2022 campaign. He sustained an injury in a Week 3 game against Buffalo, although he was able to play again despite appearing dazed on that play.
Later, the NFL modified its concussion protocol to require that a player sit out the remainder of the game if he exhibits symptoms indicative of a concussion, such as instability or loss of balance.
In a Thursday night game against Cincinnati, less than a week later, Tagovailoa was taken off the field on a stretcher after suffering a concussion from a terrifying hit that momentarily rendered him unconscious.
After suffering his second known concussion of the season in a game against Green Bay in December, he was sidelined for the remainder of 2022. Following that, Tagovailoa started researching techniques to help him fall less dangerously and shield himself from future harm, such as learning jiu-jitsu.
McDaniel remarked, “I’m not worried about anything that’s out of my hands.” “I just have concerns for the human being.”
