Tua Tagovailoa left Thursday’s primetime showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals with a head and neck injury that forced him to be stretchered off the field and taken to a local hospital. It was the second time in five days Tagovailoa was forced out of a game thanks to symptoms listed on the NFL’s concussion protocol.
The third-year quarterback left Week 3’s win over the Buffalo Bills after a shove from linebacker Matt Milano forced his head to snap into the turf at Hard Rock Stadium. Tagovailoa appeared to shake his head as if trying to regain his thoughts, then stumbled and eventually had to be propped up by his offensive linemen before exiting the game.
He suffered what was originally classified as a head injury but later explained away as a back injury after he returned to the field following halftime. In all, he missed just three offensive snaps.
That put the young passer in a tough spot four days later when the Dolphins and Bengals kicked off Week 4. Tagovailoa was once against slung to the turf. This time, he wouldn’t return.
Injury Update | Tua Tagovailoa is out of the game with head and neck injuries.
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) September 30, 2022
This led a frustrated football landscape to question the efficacy of a concussion protocol that failed to protect Tagovailoa on a national stage. While fans and pundits alike expressed disgust, the loudest voices may have been NFL veterans past and present let down by a league that’s made it a point to advertise just how much it cares about player safety.
Current NFL players weighed in
Dude should not have been playing tonight
— Adrian Phillips (@Phillips_17) September 30, 2022
Prayers up man… buddy wasn’t post to be playing anyways.🙏🏾
— Darius Slay (@bigplay24slay) September 30, 2022
Say it louder Trey!
— Darius Shaquille Leonard (@dsleon45) September 30, 2022
Can’t believe that the Miami training staff let Tua play this week after EVERYONE seen him unstable and falling over himself 4 DAYS AGO..
— Tyus Bowser™ (@tbowser23) September 30, 2022
As did some big name veterans
Tua 4 days ago. The Dolphins will have to answer for this. https://t.co/DlNIVMPZmC
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) September 30, 2022
Now IF protocol wasn’t followed & I’m a coach or executive who greenlit him playing 4 days after a head injury… I have no idea how you’re focused on the game… shit is going to get real
— chris long (@JOEL9ONE) September 30, 2022
That’s a serious injury . Tua shouldn’t have been out there with Sunday Thursday turn around. Sometimes players need protecting from themselves. Dolphins failed Tua
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) September 30, 2022
And more
Somebody should lose their job over this man. With what happened to Tua last week….cmon!
— Damien Woody (@damienwoody) September 30, 2022
Tua is a case of NFL Teams having to protect players from themselves.
Tua is also a case of NFL Players needing to be protected from their NFL Teams.— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) September 30, 2022
Ryan Fitzpatrick got emotional at halftime talking about what happened to Tua.
“As a player you gotta move on and play the game. As an announcer, an analyst, I’m having a tough time.” pic.twitter.com/6Bg52sYlsM
— Josh Hill (@jdavhill) September 30, 2022
I know what I saw and Tua was concussed last week. The fact that he was able to return to play is everything that’s wrong with the game so many of us love. A full investigation is forthcoming. Praying for this young man right now. This is awful to witness.
— Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) September 30, 2022
Tua injury makes me sick. He was clearly wobbly after last weeks hit. Back injuries don’t do this to players. No way he was fully recovered to play tonight. Freak injuries happen, but concussions are multiplied by 10 when you haven’t recovered from a previous one. https://t.co/ueONwazQG7
— Teej. (@TJLang70) September 30, 2022
I really hope Tua’s “back” injury has nothing to do with this very apparent head injury tonight. As we know repetitive head trauma can be detrimental long-term. In my opinion I see a lot of similarities to tonights injury and the “back “injury only 4 days ago..
— Golden Tate (@ShowtimeTate) September 30, 2022
As a NFL player and Alumni, I am incredibly disturbed by this TUA situation! NFL, Dolphins whoever it is needs to answer for allowing him back in the game last week after an obvious concussion, lying about his injury being a back injury and then allow him to play tonight 😡 pic.twitter.com/TLHiQyOgKC
— Dexter Carter (@iDexterCarter) September 30, 2022
Truth be told Tua should probably never have been playing.
He displayed neurological trauma last week, we disregarded it, labeled it a “back injury” & let him back in the game.
Now, the whole world watch as he lay on the field helpless. When will we put player safety FIRST!
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) September 30, 2022
stop saying Tua should have known better and not played tonight. these are world-class competitors who put themselves through excruciating mental and physical stress, training year round to play only 17 guaranteed games. protocols are in place to protect players and they failed
— Donté Stallworth (@DonteStallworth) September 30, 2022
