The Miami Dolphins have confirmed that Tua Tagovailoa will be their starting quarterback for 2023 with the team committing to him after their season-ending loss to the Buffalo Bills.
ESPN reporter Adam Schefter has stated that sources have told him that the team have been pleased with Tagovailoa's development this season under first-year coach Mike McDaniel, who has played by far his best since he entered the league as a first-round draft pick from Alabama in 2020.
Schefter added that medical professionals also are confident that Tagovailoa should be able to resume his NFL career next season.
The Dolphins were forced to play their playoff outing with the Bills without their star quarterback, after he suffered his third concussion of the season.
With much evidence suggesting that concussions can be life-changing injuries and need to be managed delicately and seriously, fans have been worried for Tagovailoa's health moving forward.
Earlier this season, some neuroscientists said that it should be enough for him to consider retiring from the sport, most notably after he suffered two in five days.
His first of the season came against the Bills, when the Hawaiian quarterback looked like he suffered a hit to the head, before getting up and running gingerly as he then fell to the ground. A number of doctors had stated that he showed symptoms of a concussion, and should have immediately been taken out of the game.
Just days later, Tagovailoa was slammed to the ground, as he would look like he would go into the 'fencing position'. This is defined as when a person experiences an impact that's strong enough to cause traumatic brain injury, such as a concussion, their arms often go into an unnatural position.
Dr Bennet Omalu, the first doctor to discover and publish findings on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in American Football players, stated that Tagovailoa should retire immediately. Dr Omalu's work was portrayed by Will Smith in the Hollywood film Concussion in 2015.
Speaking to TMZ Sports, Dr Omalu said his message to Tagovailoa would be: "If you love your life, if you love your family, you love your kids -- if you have kids -- it's time to gallantly walk away. Go find something else to do."
Fellow neuroscientist, Chris Nowinski, had tweeted after Tagovailoa's second concussion: "This is a disaster. Pray for Tua. Fire the medical staffs and coaches. I predicted this and I hate that I am right. Two concussions in 5 days can kill someone. This can end careers. How are we so stupid in 2022."
The quarterback was put in concussion protocol for a third time on December 26, two days after the Dolphins lost to the Green Bay Packers, in a game which Tagovailoa played every snap.
