Tua Tagovailoa is expected to miss at least the upcoming game and possibly more, according to his coach, who emphasized that the Dolphins quarterback should focus on being the “starting quarterback of his family.”
Tagovailoa sustained an injury during a hard hit from Bills safety Damar Hamlin in the third quarter of Thursday night’s 31-10 defeat to the Buffalo Bills. The Dolphins are set to face the Seattle Seahawks in their next game a week from Sunday, and the decision for Tagovailoa to play will depend on him and his medical team, as stated by Miami coach Mike McDaniel.
“I don’t see how he would play in the next game. I don’t see it,” McDaniel told reporters.
Indicating the team is preparing for Tagovailoa’s absence, McDaniel mentioned they are looking to sign another quarterback to support Skylar Thompson, who is likely to start, and practice squad member Tim Boyle.
“The team and the organization are very confident in Skyler,” McDaniel said. “That being said, we will bring in another quarterback.”
The injury occurred when Tagovailoa, attempting to convert on fourth down, collided with Hamlin after passing the line needed for a first down. Following the hit, Tagovailoa fell to the ground and required immediate medical assistance.
As he left the field, McDaniel shared reassuring words with him, telling him to take a moment for himself.
“I told him he’s the starting quarterback of his family, to go to the locker room, take a deep breath, and I’ll see you soon,” McDaniel said.
Hamlin, who tackled Tagovailoa, faced a life-threatening situation 20 months prior when he suffered cardiac arrest during a game and was resuscitated on the field. Despite that incident, Hamlin continued his playing career. However, McDaniel refrained from advising Tagovailoa about his future, concerned about adding pressure on the quarterback.
“If I would answer that question, I’d be like, ‘All right, this is my thoughts on his career’ and if he read it, whether he agreed or disagreed, I’ve just made it worse,” McDaniel explained.
The incident has caught the attention of Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce, who offered Tagovailoa unsolicited advice given his history of head injuries.
“I’d tell him to retire. It’s not worth it,” Pierce stated. “I haven’t witnessed anything like what’s happened to him three times. Scary. You could see the urgency on the field to get Tua help.”
Emphasizing the importance of family, Pierce remarked, “I just think that at some point, he’s going to live longer than he’s going to play football. Take care of your family.”
Tagovailoa missed several games in the 2022 season due to two significant concussions. However, he had a standout 2023 season, leading the league with 4,623 passing yards. In July, the Dolphins rewarded him with a four-year contract worth $212.4 million, including $167 million guaranteed.