Tua Tagovailoa is in concussion protocol, according to Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, putting his quarterback’s availability for Sunday’s key divisional game at New England in doubt.
Tagovailoa did not suffer a concussion in Sunday’s 26-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers, but he did exhibit symptoms on Monday and met with medical personnel. It’s also unclear when or how any injuries occurred.
“No one recognised anything with regard to any sort of hit,” McDaniel told reporters shortly after learning the news. “I can’t exactly tell you what it was. I’m not entirely convinced. But it was something about which he met with doctors today and discussed some symptoms.”
McDaniel stated that backup Teddy Bridgewater would get the majority of practise reps this week and prepare as if he were starting. Bridgewater would be backed up by rookie Skylar Thompson, as Tagovailoa is in a race against time to be cleared to play against the Patriots.
Tagovailoa dealt with head injuries early in the season, beginning with a home victory over Buffalo in which his head collided with the turf. He was concussed the following week in Cincinnati, as a national debate raged over the NFL’s protocol standards. Tagovailoa then sat out the next two games.
Tagovailoa came into the Green Bay game with only five interceptions on the season. He threw three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter against the Packers.
The Dolphins fell to 8-7 with the loss, their fourth in a row. They can still make the playoffs if they avoid losses to the Patriots and at home to the Jets in the final two weeks of the regular season, but Tagovailoa’s status is in doubt.
“That’s one of the reasons you go after a player like Teddy Bridgewater so aggressively,” McDaniel explained.
