MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The expectation is that Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will return to practice in seven days. But Mike McDaniel isn’t yet ready to commit to that.
And it’s apparently not due to stubbornness or secretiveness. Based on his comments Wednesday, the decision to designate Tagovailoa to return next week still hasn’t been made.
Injury Update for Miami Dolphins Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa
McDaniel can expect questions about his QB1 on a near-daily basis now that he’s stated publicly that the Dolphins expect Tua to play again in 2024 after suffering his fourth diagnosed concussion in Week 2.
Mike McDaniel provides a Tua Tagovailoa update pic.twitter.com/JjCXh21jmL
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) October 16, 2024
“Nothing has changed from Monday with Tua,” McDaniel said. “The process will go [on]. You have to allow days to progress for evaluation of where you’re at and have a proper assessment.
“Feel good about him. The experts and family and everybody that’s been involved, it’s been very diligent. When the next step occurs, the next step occurs. Don’t really know what [the timeline] is.”
McDaniel on Monday told reporters that Tagovailoa is still seeking additional information this week from specialists regarding how his brain has responded to the five weeks of rest since his most recent concussion.
“We’ll make sure that he’s diligent this week and assess after that,” McDaniel said.
Even if he got an all-clear this week, he couldn’t play Sunday against the Colts. He must sit out at least one more game in accordance with NFL rules for players placed on injured reserve.
On Saturday morning, the Athletic reported that Tagovailoa is back, but it is a bit of a misnomer. The plan remains for him to return to practice but McDaniel will assuredly make sure he is ready to do on Monday before he steps on the practice field.
Concussion Protocol Overview
While McDaniel did not say Monday where in the protocol Tagovailoa is, common sense suggests that he’s in Phase 3, which is football-specific exercise (cardiovascular drills that simulate football activities).
But as soon as the Dolphins open his return-to-play window — which could happen as soon as next Wednesday — he presumably will advance to Phase 4, which involves non-contact training drills.
What’s more, according to the league, “neurocognitive and balance training should be completed no later than the end of Phase 4 with the results interpreted as back to baseline.”
If all comes back as it should, Tagovailoa would then move into the final phase: Full football activity/clearance.
“Upon clearance by the club physician for full football activity involving contact, the player must be examined by the Independent Neurological Consultant (INC) assigned to his club. If the INC concurs with the club physician that the player’s concussion has resolved, he may participate in the club’s next practice or game.”
