In the wake of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa being removed from play twice under the NFL’s concussion protocol, the league saw 12 more players, including several quarterbacks, being set down on Oct. 2.
Something has to be done. Should all those injured players be dropped for their seasons, for their careers? Nope. Too drastic. But the current protocol clearly isn’t sufficient.
Tagovailoa has already been ruled out of the next game on Sunday, Oct. 9 against the New York Jets — 10 days after he last played, which is interesting because he has already been cleared of the concussion protocol.
Miami coach Mike McDaniel made the announcement on Oct. 4, saying the quarterback would not play Sunday against the Jets. According to Sports Illustrated, McDaniel said it was “premature to decide whether Tagovailoa will be going on injured reserve, which would sideline him for at least four games.”
Tagovailoa is playing for the Dolphins under a four-year, guaranteed contract of $30.3 million and was drafted No. 5 in 2020.
The NFLPA (that’s the players’ union) exercised its rights and fired the unaffiliated neurotrauma
consultant who examined Tagovailoa during the Buffalo game on Sept. 25. In that game, he was
noticeably wobbly on the field following a hit, but was examined and allowed to return to the game. Four days later, on Thursday, Sept. 29, in a game against Cincinnati, a vicious tackle took the starting quarterback out of the game. It was Tagovailoa’s second concussion within four days. Teddy Bridgewater replaced him.
“Chris Nowinski, a leading expert on concussions, told The Palm Beach Post he fears
Tagovailoa may have permanent brain damage,” The Palm Beach Post reported on Sept. 30.
“Nowinski, a Boynton Beach resident, had warned that if the Dolphins allowed Tagovailoa to play against the Cincinnati Bengals, it would represent a ‘massive step back’ for concussion care in the NFL.’”
His replacement, Bridgewater, graduated from Northwestern High School in Miami and attended the University of Louisville. Miami also has quarterback Skylar Thompson, a draft pick from Kansas State. The Dolphins also have added quarterback Reid Sinnett to their practice
squad.
Bridgewater, who will turn 30 on Nov. 10, was drafted in the first round in 2014 by Seattle, but
was soon traded to Minnesota, where he became the Vikings’ starter for all 16 games and was
selected for the 2015 Pro Bowl. From there, he went to New Orleans, where he started 15
games in 2020. Bridgewater was a backup quarterback in New Orleans and Carolina for two years before being signed by Miami.
While other teams are having to replace their quarterbacks with deep second and third stringers, I would think Miami stands tall with Bridgewater, who is signed for this season only.
Tagovailoa was described as “brittle” while at the University of Alabama and hasn’t indicated he’s any stronger as a pro. Miami may be looking for another quarterback by next season.
