Some plays in the NFL are remembered for a lifetime. Most of them are good plays, like when your favorite player scores a big touchdown or your team wins the Super Bowl. But then there are also bad plays, like when Damar Hamlin collapsed to the turf in 2023.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has impressed with his throwing ability. Unfortunately, the young quarterback has already suffered several significant injuries in his NFL career. Tagovailoa has a history of concussions, and on one play he tried to get up and walk away but couldn’t, and on another play his hands were shaking and he curled up as the camera zoomed in on him.
Tagovailoa and the Dolphins will face the Buffalo Bills on “Thursday Night Football” in Week 2. Miami’s QB was struggling in the game but tried his best to get his team a first down by running in the third quarter. Tagovailoa should have slid in but instead dove headfirst to gain some yards and ended up landing in Hamlin’s lap.
Tua and Damar Hamlin collide. Tua is currently down on the field. #BUFvsMIA pic.twitter.com/4QxhAhouGe
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) September 13, 2024
Tagovailoa was carried to the sideline and walked out of the game under his own power, returned to the locker room, but was immediately ruled out for the remainder of the game due to a concussion.
How many concussions has Tua Tagovailoa had?
It took six minutes for the team to decide to rule Tagovailoa out for the remainder of the Week 2 game after suffering what was ruled an apparent concussion, officially the third concussion of his career.
College Life at the University of Alabama
Tagovailoa is no stranger to injuries. He suffered multiple ankle injuries and a devastating hip injury while playing for the Crimson Tide. Tagovailoa was never diagnosed with a concussion in college, but analysts who covered him have not ruled out the possibility that he suffered at least one.
Week 3, 2022 vs. Bills
Tagovailoa was hit hard on the ground just before halftime and was thought to have suffered a concussion, leading viewers to be surprised when he returned to the game in the second half. Tagovailoa passed concussion testing but was suffering from back spasms.
Tua Tagovailoa heads to the locker room after this hit by Matt Milano.
I’m praying for you 🙏pic.twitter.com/u3cSEQpeKq
— Clutch Points (@ClutchPoints) September 25, 2022
Week 4, 2022 vs. Bengals
Tagovailoa suffered his first concussion in Week 4 of the 2022 season, though many believe he also suffered a concussion the week before. In Week 4, Tagovailoa and Miami were playing the Cincinnati Bengals. Tagovailoa was injured in the second quarter and was carried off on a stretcher. It was a Grade 1 concussion.
MORE: NFL concussion protocol explained
Week 16, 2022 vs. Packers
He returned a few weeks later in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tagovailoa played the majority of the season, but suffered another concussion on Christmas Day against the Green Bay Packers. A second concussion diagnosis ruled him out for the remaining weeks of the season. It was ruled a Grade 3 concussion.
This appears to be the play where Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa was injured after hitting his head on the ground. pic.twitter.com/zCQXadHm2r
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 26, 2022
All concussions are terrible, but the more you suffer from them the worse the symptoms become. The most famous player to retire due to a concussion in recent memory is Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Coakley, who retired at the height of his career after suffering his third concussion.
Dolphins fans are hoping Tagovailoa doesn’t have to do the same thing.
