Megan Briggs/Getty Images
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters on Monday he wasn’t going to “assume” starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa would be able to play on Thursday night against the Cincinnati Bengals as he deals with back and ankle injuries:
Marcel Louis-Jacques @Marcel_LJ
Mike McDaniel said Tua is sore right now, which they expected. Added that he’s nursing some ankle soreness as well but too early to make a statement one way or the other if Tua will play Thursday:
“I don’t assume anything.”
Marcel Louis-Jacques @Marcel_LJ
Tua Tagovailoa is not in concussion protocol, per Mike McDaniel
Tagovailoa, 24, suffered what appeared to be a head injury during Sunday’s 21-9 win over the Buffalo Bills. He left the game in the second quarter and was deemed questionable to return by the team at halftime, only to return in the second half.
The NFLPA wants to open a review into whether the Dolphins properly went through the league’s concussion protocol, per ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques, though both head coach Mike McDaniel and Tagovailoa said he was dealing with back issues that were the more pressing concern.
Cameron Wolfe @CameronWolfe
Mike McDaniel says he’s very sensitive to player safety & everyone kept checking on Tua Tagovailoa’s head despite him insisting it was his back and got annoyed. He said he wouldn’t have put Tua back in if there were any red flags and this is exact reason protocols are in place.
“It was sore when it did happen. But I mean, any competitor that would’ve never wanted to come out would’ve did the same thing,” Tagovailoa told reporters of his back, saying he hyperextended it. “So I was just trying my hardest to get back up and get the next play and run it.”
Tagovailoa nearly fell after getting up following the hit that temporarily caused him to leave the game but told reporters his back “locked up” and caused the stumble.
Dov Kleiman @NFL_DovKleiman
Tua went to the locker room. Teddy Bridgewater is in.
Here’s what happened.pic.twitter.com/b3xsr7Eesf
Ian Rapoport @RapSheet
From NFL Now: Where it all stands with #Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa. pic.twitter.com/CKPv8pOIfb
The third-year quarterback has been brilliant to start the 2022 season, throwing for 925 yards, eight scores—though six of them came in a Week 2 comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens—and two interceptions in three games while completing 71.3 percent of his passes.
The Dolphins, in turn, are 3-0.
The addition of star wideout Tyreek Hill and the new offensive scheme put in place by first-year head coach McDaniel has appeared to help Tagovailoa take the next step after ho-hum efforts in his rookie and sophomore seasons.
If he’s unable to go in Week 4 against the Bengals, backup Teddy Bridgewater would take over as the team’s starter.
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