by Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel ruled out quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on Monday for the team’s Week 5 game against the New York Jets because of the concussion Tagovailoa suffered on Sept. 29 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
“This is something that’s too early to definitely put a timeline on,” McDaniel told reporters. per Pro Football Network. “I can safely say he will be out for this game.”
Teddy Bridgewater will start in place of Tagovailoa against New York. Miami also signs QB Reid Sinnett to their practice squad.
McDaniel wouldn’t commit to putting Tagovailoa on injured reserve — a move that would sideline the third-year QB for at least four weeks.
“It’s been a good couple of days,” McDaniel he said. “He’s just trying to proceed with proper process and protocol.”
McDaniel said a decision on when Tagovailoa will play again will be made according to league rules.
“It’s a collection of people who advise,” McDaniel he said. “This is something we will always hold ourselves accountable for.”
NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported Saturday that the league and the NFL Players Association have agreed to parameters of an updated concussion protocol that will rule out players with severe motor instability like Tagovailoa did during the Dolphins’ Week 3 game. against the Accounts, regardless of any possible factors.
Currently, the league’s concussion protocol states that severe motor instability means a player cannot return to play if the “team physician, in consultation with UNC (unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant), determines the instability will result neurological.” The agreed-upon parameters for the update are expected to close that loophole and prevent players from returning to action like Tagovailoa did against the Bills.
Tagovailoa briefly left the Sept. 25 game against Buffalo in the first half with what the team initially announced was a head injury suffered after a hit by linebacker Matt Milano, who was flagged for roughing the passer on game. Once on his feet, Tagovailoa shook his head and stumbled as he began to run forward before being taken off the field. Tagovailoa later returned to the game after halftime.
After the Dolphins’ 21-19 win, McDaniel told reporters after the game that Tagovailoa suffered a lower back injury in the first half that was aggravated by the hit from Milano and was the cause of Tagovailoa’s fumble.
The NFLPA launched an investigation into the handling of Tagovailoa’s concussion evaluation after the Dolphins’ Week 3 win.
Tagovailoa was listed as questionable with back and ankle injuries before last Thursday’s game against Cincinnati. Tagovailoa was sacked by Bengals defensive tackle Josh Tupou and apparently hit his head on the turf after falling to the ground during the first half of the Week 4 contest. Tagovailoa remained on the turf for several minutes as trainers tended to him before being taken from the field on a stretcher and then by ambulance to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center to be treated for head and neck injuries.
On Saturday, the NFLPA terminated UNC’s involvement in Tagovailoa’s concussion check during the Week 3 game against Buffalo.
“I can’t speak to what the league and the league decide to do with that particular specialist,” McDaniel said. he said. “As far as the new custom rule, moving forward, if it’s safer for an extra player, then I’m all for it.”
McDaniel added that he is “very, very confident” in the team’s medical staff and that they are “very happy to comply” with the league’s investigation.
