McDaniel, Dolphins Players, Medical Experts React to Tagovailoa's Concussion

Miami Dolphins Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa Suffers Concussion

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa exited Thursday night's game against the Cincinnati Bengals on a stretcher after suffering a scary head injury in the second quarter. Tagovailoa was sacked by Bengals defensive lineman Josh Tupou and hit his head on the ground. He remained motionless on the field for several minutes before being helped off on a stretcher. The Dolphins announced that Tagovailoa had suffered a concussion and was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. The injury occurred just four days after Tagovailoa was controversially cleared to play in a game against the Buffalo Bills despite showing concussion-like symptoms in the previous game against the New York Jets. That decision has come under intense scrutiny, and the NFL and NFL Players Association are conducting a joint review of the matter.

Reactions to Tagovailoa's Concussion

The news of Tagovailoa's concussion has sent shockwaves through the NFL community. Many people have expressed concern for Tagovailoa's health and criticized the Dolphins' decision to play him so soon after his previous head injury. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said after the game that he was "heartbroken" for Tagovailoa and that the team's priority is his health. "He's a tough kid. He's got a lot of grit. But at the end of the day, it's something that we've got to be smart about," McDaniel said. Several of Tagovailoa's teammates also expressed their concern and support for him after the game. "It was tough to see him go down like that," said wide receiver Tyreek Hill. "He's a warrior. He's a fighter. He's going to bounce back from this." Medical experts have also weighed in on Tagovailoa's injury. Dr. Ann McKee, a neuropathologist at Boston University, said that the fact that Tagovailoa suffered a concussion so soon after his previous head injury is a "major concern." "This is a young man who has a lot of football ahead of him," McKee said. "We need to be very careful about how we manage his care."

The NFL's Concussion Protocol

The NFL has a concussion protocol in place to help ensure that players who suffer head injuries are properly diagnosed and treated. The protocol requires that any player who shows signs of a concussion be removed from the game and evaluated by a team doctor. The team doctor must then determine whether the player has suffered a concussion. If the player has suffered a concussion, they must be placed on injured reserve for at least one week. The NFL's concussion protocol has been criticized by some for not being strict enough. Some experts believe that the protocol should require players to sit out for longer periods of time after suffering a concussion. The NFL is currently reviewing its concussion protocol in light of Tagovailoa's injury. The league is expected to make changes to the protocol in the offseason.