Miami Dolphins quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, was carted off the field on a stretcher during last Thursday night’s game after hitting his head on the turf.
Midway through the second quarter of the game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Miami Dolphins, Tagovailoa dropped back to pass around midfield. Tagovailoa was sacked by Cincinnati defensive tackle Josh Tupou resulting in him being slung to the turf. Tagovailoa’s elbow broke ground first, followed by the back of his helmet.
Tagovailoa immediately raised his hands with his fingers splayed a medical gesture known as a “fencing response.” According to Karen Gill, M.D., “The fencing response is often seen when a player is knocked down or knocked out during full-contact athletic competitions.”
A few minutes after being wheeled off the field with concerned teammates standing and kneeling, the game’s television broadcasters announced that Tagovailoa had sustained head and neck injuries. He was soon taken to the University of Cincinnati’s medical center.
Tagovailoa was put into the NFL’s concussion protocol, which guides doctors in determining when a player can safely return to practice and games.
Following the game, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Tagovailoa suffered a concussion and nothing “more serious.”
“That was an emotional moment, that is not part of the deal that anyone signs up for, even though you know it’s a possibility in football to have something that you have to get taken off on a stretcher,” McDaniel said. “All of his teammates and myself, we were all very concerned, so the best news that we could get is that everything’s checked out, that he didn’t have anything more serious than a concussion and will be flying back with us here on the plane.”
The recent injury comes from Tagovailoa temporarily exiting the Dolphins’ win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. He left Sunday’s game with what was initially announced as a head injury. The QB returned to the second half of the game and finished out the win.
People speculated whether the proper protocol had been followed, but McDaniel emphasized that an independent specialist evaluated Tagovailoa. He stated that he did nothing to “fudge” with the protocol being followed.
Among the many NFL players who reacted to Tagovailoa’s scary hit was Tom Brady. Brady explained that the recovery from an injury should be the focus.
“How do we deal with them in the best possible way? What are the best practices associated with the prevention of them as well as if you do get them? How do you recover as quickly as possible? I think that should be really a focus as well,” Brady said. “How you implement those protocols for athletes. It’s something we should all think about, so we can do a better job of it in the future.”
Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals also weighed in on the conversation surrounding concussions in football. “Stuff like that happens all the time,” Burrow said. He went on to say that the NFL can be in a tough spot if players withhold symptoms and that the league typically does an adequate job of pulling the players from plays that suggest head injury.
Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphin’s wide receiver spoke to the media on Monday afternoon.
“For real, I don’t think there’s ever a moment when Tua is down. I just saw him in the locker room a moment ago and he’s smiling from ear to ear,” Hill said. “We want Tua on the field, but we also understand the magnitude of this situation. His health moving forward is very important to all of us because life is so precious.”
While Tagovailoa’s concussion issues have clouded things and there isn’t a timetable for his return, Hill said he is in good hands.
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