Tua Tagovailoa Exits with Concussion Following Collision with Damar Hamlin

The Miami Dolphins’ quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will not be playing in Thursday night’s game against the Buffalo Bills after suffering a concussion. The injury occurred when he collided with Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin and hit the back of his head against the ground.

Tagovailoa, who has a documented history of head injuries, was down for approximately two minutes before managing to get up and walk off the field. He headed to the locker room shortly after the incident, taking a moment to look at the fans in the stands, briefly smiling before his departure.

The Dolphins acted promptly in confirming that Tagovailoa had suffered a concussion.

At the age of 25, Tagovailoa has already faced multiple concussions during his first three seasons in the NFL. He was aiming for a strong performance in 2023, where he had a considerable opportunity for a salary increase after signing a four-year, $212 million extension before the season started. Tagovailoa was also the league’s leading passer in Week 1, having thrown for 4,624 yards and 29 touchdowns.

When he exited the game, the Dolphins were trailing the Bills 31-10, a score that would not change.

Tagovailoa was injured on a fourth-down keeper play with about four and a half minutes left in the third quarter. He charged directly at Hamlin without attempting to slide, leading into the tackle with his right shoulder.

After the hit, Tagovailoa ended up on his back with his hands raised. Observing the situation, Bills players pointed to him, indicating there might be a serious injury. Dolphins center Aaron Brewer also waved to the sideline in concern.

Despite the circumstances, Tagovailoa managed to rise to his feet. As he left the field, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel affectionately touched the side of his head and kissed him on the cheek before Tagovailoa exited.

It’s worth noting that Hamlin previously suffered a life-threatening cardiac arrest during a Monday night game against the Cincinnati Bengals in January 2023, an event that profoundly impacted the NFL.

Tagovailoa’s journey has been significantly influenced by his past concussions, and this latest incident brings those challenges into sharp focus. The quarterback sustained at least two concussions during the previous season. One occurred in a Week 3 game against the Bills, where he showed signs of disorientation but was allowed to return after passing the concussion protocol.

In response to this incident, the NFL overhauled its concussion protocols. The revised rules dictate that any player exhibiting signs of a potential concussion, which may include loss of balance or stability, must exit the game immediately.

Just a week later, during a Thursday night game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Tagovailoa experienced another concussion from a violent hit that left him briefly unconscious, requiring him to be taken off the field on a stretcher.

His second known concussion of that 2022 season occurred during a December match against the Green Bay Packers, sidelining him for the remainder of the year.

Heading into the previous season, Tagovailoa took measures to protect himself from further injuries by added muscle to his frame and studying jiu-jitsu techniques, aiming to learn how to fall safely.