Adam Schefter, ESPN Senior Author
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was anticipated to renew working towards subsequent week, with the hopes of having the ability to play subsequent Sunday towards the Arizona Cardinals, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Tagovailoa remained within the concussion protocol and was topic to the NFL’s return-to-play provisions, which might play a vital step in figuring out whether or not he might return.
Regardless of his most up-to-date concussion, Tagovailoa deliberate to aim to return to taking part in soccer, and it now not gave the impression to be a query.
As scary as Tagovailoa’s newest damage was, along with his arms falling right into a fencing response, it was in keeping with how he had acted after every of the opposite concussions he sustained.
Tagovailoa has been noticed visiting with neurologists in Pittsburgh, as he has achieved prior to now, and docs seemingly haven’t advised him something sturdy sufficient that might change his thoughts about eager to proceed taking part in the game that has been part of his life since his childhood.
Not solely has Tagovailoa consulted with a few of the identical docs he visited after earlier head accidents, he additionally has visited with new ones, attempting to assemble as a lot data as attainable in making a transparent dedication about his future. However as one supply advised ESPN earlier this month: “He is one hundred pc taking part in.”
Tagovailoa additionally has insisted that he has felt high quality. After sustaining a concussion within the Dolphins’ Week 2 Thursday night time recreation towards the Payments, he was symptom-free shortly thereafter. Moderately than go to an area hospital, Tagovailoa remained within the Dolphins’ locker room, greeted his teammates and demonstrated few indicators he had skilled one other traumatic episode involving his mind.
The Athletic first reported Saturday that Tagovailoa was anticipated to renew working towards subsequent week.
Tagovailoa, 26, has a historical past of concussions since getting into the NFL in 2020. He was identified with two concussions through the 2022 season and sustained a 3rd hit to the pinnacle that led to the NFL altering its coverage on how concussions are reported.
After he was identified with a concussion on Dec. 26, 2022, the Dolphins successfully shut him down for the remainder of the season; he progressed via the league’s protocol as soon as the season ended.
Tagovailoa will sit out his fourth recreation Sunday when Miami travels to Indianapolis to play the Colts. However Tagovailoa can be eligible to return off injured reserve subsequent week and return Oct. 27 for Miami’s residence recreation towards the Cardinals.
Miami has began two quarterbacks in Tagovailoa’s absence: Skylar Thompson and Tyler Huntley; the latter was signed from the Ravens’ observe squad and began his first recreation two weeks later after an damage to Thompson.
The Dolphins plan to proceed beginning Huntley till Tagovailoa’s return. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel stated the group’s Week 6 bye allowed Huntley to “actually bounce into” the finer factors of the Dolphins’ complicated offense.
Although the Dolphins will intently and thoroughly monitor him, there’s a rising sense Tagovailoa can be behind middle as early as subsequent week.
Tagovailoa already has been participating in group conferences, standing on the sideline for each recreation he has sat out and participating in all group actions, besides practices and video games.
ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques contributed to this report.
