Tua Tagovailoa is expected to be unavailable for the upcoming game and possibly longer, as indicated by his coach on Friday. The Miami Dolphins quarterback has been advised to focus on being the “starting quarterback of his family.”
Tagovailoa sustained an injury during a collision with Bills safety Damar Hamlin in the third quarter of Thursday night’s 31-10 defeat against the Buffalo Bills. The Dolphins are set to face the Seattle Seahawks in a week, and the decision regarding Tagovailoa’s participation will depend on him and his medical team, according to head coach Mike McDaniel.
“I don’t see how he would play in the next game. I don’t see it,” McDaniel stated during a press conference.
In preparation for possibly being without Tagovailoa for an extended period, McDaniel mentioned that the team is looking to acquire another quarterback to support presumptive starter Skylar Thompson and practice squad QB Tim Boyle.
“We have a lot of confidence in Skyler,” McDaniel said. “That being said, we will bring in another quarterback.”
The injury occurred as Tagovailoa was scrambling to gain a first down, lowering his helmet during a collision with Hamlin. After hitting the ground, he seemed unable to rise, prompting immediate medical assistance from both teams.
As Tagovailoa departed the field, McDaniel shared a brief message with him. “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 recounted.
Damar Hamlin, the player involved in the tackle, had a life-threatening incident 20 months ago when he went into cardiac arrest during a game and required on-field resuscitation in Cincinnati. Despite that experience, he continued his football career. McDaniel expressed his reluctance to advise Tagovailoa on his future, emphasizing the potential stress such a discussion could bring him.
“It would be so wrong of me to even touch that subject,” he said, acknowledging the delicate nature of the situation and avoiding any additional pressure on Tagovailoa.
The incident drew attention from Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce, who offered unsolicited advice to Tagovailoa, especially concerning his history of head injuries. “I’d tell him to retire. It’s not worth it,” Pierce stated during a press conference. “Having witnessed what’s happened to him three times is scary. You could see the urgency on the players’ faces to get Tua help.”
Pierce echoed McDaniel’s sentiment about prioritizing family. “At some point, he’s going to live longer than he’s going to play football. Take care of your family.”
Tagovailoa had previously missed several games in the 2022 season due to two serious concussions. However, he rebounded in 2023, leading the league with 4,623 passing yards. In July, the Dolphins rewarded him with a four-year contract worth $212.4 million, with $167 million guaranteed.