MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Tua Tagovailoa will not play Sunday against the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel was able to say “comfortably” Monday. But beyond that, Tua’s timeline for return from a scary concussion suffered four days ago is murky.
Veteran Teddy Bridgewater will start for the Dolphins on Sunday at the Meadowlands.
The organization is concerned enough that this might be a multi-week absence for Tua that it brought back quarterback Reid Sinnett on Monday, signing the former Dolphin to their practice squad. But beyond that, McDaniel said Monday it’s “too early to give a definite timeline.”
Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa Ruled Out for Week 5
The Dolphins, of course, are wise to use supreme caution with Tagovailoa. The visuals from his head injury last Thursday — with Tua immobilized and hospitalized after experiencing what is known as a fencing response — are still fresh, and they’re still jarring.
Tagovailoa could suffer significant permanent brain damage if he returns too soon. Not to mention the massive backlash that would ensue if there’s even the slightest impression the Dolphins are rushing him back.
Tagovailoa was in team headquarters Monday, McDaniel said.
“He’s had a couple of good days,” McDaniel said. “He’s just trying to go through with the proper procedure and protocol.”
Tagovailoa, of course, remains in the concussion protocol — but the Dolphins have consistently insisted that this is the first concussion he’s suffered this year.
Critics believe Tua should not have been allowed back in the Week 3 game against the Bills, nor should he have been allowed to play on Thursday night against the Bengals four days later after staggering and losing his balance immediately after slamming the back of his head on the turf at Hard Rock Stadium on Sept. 25.
McDaniel and Tagovailoa have consistently insisted that Tua did not suffer a head injury that day and his instability was a result of a back injury.
The NFLPA is skeptical and has not only launched an investigation into the process but has also fired the independent neurologist who examined Tagovailoa both during and after the game. And the union and the league on Saturday announced that “modifications to the Concussion Protocol are needed to enhance player safety.”
The joint statement also stipulated that the league and union “have not made any conclusions about medical errors or protocol violations.”
“Personally, I can’t speak on what the what the league, and specifically the union, decide to do with that particular specialist,” McDaniel said. “I think in terms of the new adjusted rule, you know, if moving forward it’s safer for one extra player, then, you know, I’m all for it.”
Dolphins Remain ‘Very Confident’ in Procedure
McDaniel has been consistent in his message over the last week and reiterated again Monday that he’s “still very confident” in how his team handled Tua’s examination for a possible concussion last week.
McDaniel added that he’s “very, very confident” in the Dolphins’ medical staff, and they are “very happy to comply” with the NFLPA inquiry.
“We do not have anything to hide,” he said.
That’s significant. Because while we, the general public, does not know what the NFLPA will find, the Dolphins presumably do. And they haven’t backed down an inch over the last week.
Tagovailoa’s MRI on Friday came back clean, and McDaniel encourages Tua to get multiple opinions if that’s what he wants.
The decision to clear Tua to return from his concussion will be made by “a collection of people.”
But that decision won’t come before next week at the earliest.