CINCINNATI — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was taken off the field in a stretcher in the second quarter of his team’s Thursday night game at the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
The third-year quarterback was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game with head and neck injuries. The Amazon Prime Video broadcast reported that Tagovailoa was taken to University of Cincinnati medical facilities.
“Tua Tagovailoa has been taken to a local hospital for further evaluation,” the Dolphins released in a statement. “He is conscious and has movement in all his extremities.”
Tagovailoa, who was already playing through back and ankle injuries, was spun down and driven to the turf on a sack by Bengals nose tackle Josh Tupou.
Tagovailoa landed on his bad back on the violent takedown, and the back of his head hit the ground hard from the whiplash. Tagovailoa appeared to lie motionless as he was attended to on the field before being taken on the stretcher. His left index finger was stuck in an awkward inward-pointing position, as game broadcast cameras caught.
Tagovailoa was questionable for the game entering Thursday after dealing with the back and ankle injuries he suffered in Sunday’s win over the Buffalo Bills that caused him to leave and re-enter that game at Hard Rock Stadium. He was also thought initially to have suffered a head injury on Sunday before it was clarified he only sustained back and ankle ailments.
Tagovailoa was 8 of 14 for 110 yards and an interception at the time of the injury. He was looking sharp on multiple throws over the middle to open receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. He had another good-looking throw to tight end Mike Gesicki between four defenders in a zone. Tagovailoa’s interception came on an underthrown deep ball intended for Hill.
Backup Teddy Bridgewater replaced Tagovailoa for the Dolphins.
