MIAMI — Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been cleared from the NFL’s concussion protocol, a league source confirmed to the Miami Herald, over a month after being diagnosed with his second concussion in the 2022 season.
Tagovailoa had been in the protocol since Dec. 26 and missed Miami’s final three games, including a season-ending loss to the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round.
A league source told the Miami Herald last week that while Tagovailoa had not yet been cleared from the protocol, he had not sustained a setback and doctors were being cautious in his return from what was either his second or third concussion this season.
Tagovailoa, who was named a first alternate to the 2023 Pro Bowl Games, will not participate in the all-star event as he continues to recover. He sustained his first diagnosed concussion in September, causing him to miss two games.
In his end-of-season news conference, Grier said Tagovailoa, who had a breakout season and led the NFL in passer rating in 2022, will return as the team’s starter in 2023. Grier also said that Tagovailoa’s spate of concussions is “not a concern” and that doctors have told him Tagovailoa isn’t more prone to sustaining another concussion.
“We anticipate him, worked with and talking with the doctors and consultants and everyone we dealt with, we fully expect him back next year 100 percent ready to go,” Grier said in January.
The Dolphins have a May 1 deadline to exercise Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option, which would fully guarantee his 2024 base salary at a projected $22 million. Tagovailoa is also eligible for a contract extension this offseason.
Grier said “everything’s on the table for us” regarding Tagovailoa’s contract.
According to NFL Players Association records, Tagovailoa changed his representation to Athletes First.
NFL Network first reported Tagovailoa cleared concussion protocol.
