“Tua Tagovailoa’s Future Uncertain After Third Concussion as Dolphins Struggle Without Him”
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered his third diagnosed concussion in the NFL during a Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills and has been sidelined since. Following the injury, many in the league called for him to retire due to the heightened risk of neurological issues, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), from repeated concussions.
However, Nick Saban, Tagovailoa’s former coach at the University of Alabama, recently expressed optimism about his player’s mindset. Speaking on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Saban mentioned that Tagovailoa remains positive and eager to return to the field if medically cleared. “He’s good. He’s always positive and very enthusiastic,” Saban said. “He really wants to play, but whether he gets that opportunity again depends on a medical decision.”
Tagovailoa’s early NFL career had its challenges, leading some to question Miami’s decision to draft him fifth overall in 2020 ahead of Justin Herbert, who quickly became a star for the Los Angeles Chargers. However, Tagovailoa made significant progress in his third season, earning his first Pro Bowl selection last year after leading the league with 4,624 passing yards and throwing a career-high 29 touchdown passes.
Since his injury, the Dolphins have struggled offensively. After losing three consecutive games starting with the Bills matchup, they did manage a Week 5 win over the New England Patriots, but their offense has been inconsistent. Miami has scored over 20 points just once, in the only full game Tagovailoa played this season. They rank last in both total passing touchdowns and points per game.
To make matters worse, backup quarterback Skylar Thompson sustained a rib injury in Week 3. Fortunately, Miami has a bye week, giving Thompson time to recover before their Week 7 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.