Tua Tagovailoa had another scary moment on the field during the Dolphins’ 31-10 loss to the Bills on Thursday night in Miami.
The Dolphins quarterback, already with a history of concussions, went down with another one during the third quarter after he ran into the chest of a Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin on a rushing attempt.
On a fourth-down play, Tagovailoa saw a hole up the middle and decided to run for the first down.
After he crossed the first-down marker, the quarterback attempted to dive head-first but did so right into Hamlin, sending Tagovailoa to the ground.
The Dolphins signal-caller attempted to sit up but looked dazed and went back to the ground as teammates immediately waved for the medical staff.
Tagovailoa eventually did walk off the field and went to the Dolphins locker room, where the team’s medical staff ruled within six minutes that he had a concussion.
Backup Skylar Thompson entered the game following the injury.
“I’m just worried about my teammate like the rest of the guys are,” head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters after the game. “We’ll get more information tomorrow and then take it day by day from there.”
Tagovailoa is now expected to go for more medical testing Friday, the Associated Press reported.
There is sure to be plenty of concern among football fans over the injury, considering Tagovailoa’s prior concussions.
He suffered two concussions during the 2022 season, which included a scary moment in Week 3 of that season — which also occurred against the Bills — when his head hit the ground hard, and he was then seen stumbling after the hit.
But coach Mike McDaniel said his quarterback had been checked out and was not diagnosed with a concussion after the hit.
The NFLPA later fired the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant who cleared the quarterback to return to the game.
Tagovailoa then suffered a concussion just days later during a “Thursday Night Football” game against the Bengals.
He revealed later he was “unconscious” after the first official concussion.
He suffered a second concussion in 2022 in Week 16 against the Packers, which forced him to miss the last two games of the regular season and a playoff game.
Thursday night, Tagovailoa threw three interceptions — including a pick-six — before he exited the game.
Tagovailoa finished the night by completing 17 for 25 for 145 yards.
“Very sad. It’s the worst part of the game,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen told reporters afterward. “Nothing but love and prayers to him and his family, and hopefully everyone is sending those because he’s going to need them.”
