After a 2022 season in which he suffered two confirmed concussions and most likely three head injuries, Tua Tagovailoa considered retirement. The Dolphins quarterback’s latest concussion brought calls for him to revisit that effort, but that has not taken place.
Indicating he has been symptom-free since the day after his Week 2 concussion, Tagovailoa said he did not consider retirement following the Bills matchup and has spoken with “several” neurologists about his recovery. Players rarely land on IR due to concussions, illustrating the concern the Dolphins have for their centerpiece player. Week 8 marks Tagovailoa’s first chance to come back, and signs are pointing to a return — one that would give Miami a way out of its Tua-less quagmire and invite more concerns about his long-term health.
Adding to potential worries about the left-hander’s future, he will not wear a Guardian Cap upon returning. A handful of players have exercised the right to wear the practice caps during games, which the NFL began permitting this year. Most have resisted, and Tua is now among the majority despite his history with concussions.
Mike McDaniel said (via ESPN.com’s Marcel Louis-Jacques) the call to move Tagovailoa to IR came at the advice of medical personnel. That alone should trip alarms, but we heard early during the fifth-year passer’s recovery a return was expected this season. The Dolphins have a significant issue on their hands, with the offense’s struggles in the starter’s absence — to the point the team has ground to make up for a playoff return — persisting regardless of which backup option the team used. Balancing this with Tagovailoa’s long-term health will be a line McDaniel and Co. will need to continue walking.
Tagovailoa said he spent time throwing during his IR stay, indicating (via NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe) he has done so for around a month. That would cover most of the time he has been out. The recently extended passer admitted frustration with being placed on IR, and SI.com’s Albert Breer expects him to return Sunday.
Retirement would have largely scuttled the massive extension Tagovailoa signed in July. In order to stay on track to secure the money from his four-year, $212.4MM extension ($167.2MM split between full and injury guarantees), the Alabama alum will need to keep playing. A retirement after passing a Dolphins physical would change the game, and it does not appear that will be on the table for the now-highly…