The Miami Dolphins have been warned against playing Tua Tagovailoa in the NFL playoffs as the quarterback risks ‘permanent brain damage’.
Tagovailoa has not played since entering the NFL’s concussion protocol once more after falling 26-20 to the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day. After appearing to bounce his head off the turf in the second half, Tagovailoa threw three interceptions in the loss to Green Bay and many NFL figures are concerned for his health going forwards.
The news that Tagovailoa had entered concussion protocol rang alarm bells after he was hospitalised in September due to a second head injury in successive games. In Week Four, the 24-year-old suffered a concussion against the Cincinnati Bengals just days after taking a scary hit against the Buffalo Bills.
Against the Bills, Tagovailoa’s head bounced off the turf in similar fashion to Sunday against the Packers. He was medically cleared the next week to play against the Bengals and ended up in hospital.
Shortly afterwards, the NFL and NFLPA announced they would review the concussion protocol with a new rule set to be implemented. The medicine consultant who cleared Tagovailoa following a check against the Bills was also fired, while Dr Bennet Omalu - the first doctor to discover and publish findings on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in American Football players - urged Tagovailoa to retire immediately.
Ultimately, several world-renowned neuroscientists warning the quarterback of the dangers of having two concussions in quick succession, let alone a third. Sports analyst Bill Simmons fumed at the very suggestion of Tagovailoa returning in time for Miami’s opening playoff game on Sunday.
“If Tua plays, I genuinely feel like that's irresponsible,” Simmons said on his podcast. “Especially with what we've just been through on Monday.
“To put a guy who's had three concussions out on the football field? I don't want to watch that. Put the f***** guy out for the year, just do it. Why are we letting this linger?
“He's had three concussions. Talk to [neurologist] Chris Nowinski for three minutes about this. He'd be like, ‘please don't play this guy again, he's going to get permanent brain damage.’ Don't do it. Seriously.”
After their tight win over the New York Jets, the Dolphins clinched the seventh and final AFC playoff berth. On Sunday, they will face the Bills in Buffalo with Tagovailoa’s status up in the air.
