Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was expected to resume practicing next week, with the hopes of being able to play next Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Tagovailoa remained in the concussion protocol and was subject to the NFL’s return-to-play provisions, which would play a crucial step in determining whether he could return.
Despite his most recent concussion, Tagovailoa planned to attempt to return to playing football, and it no longer seemed to be a question.
As scary as Tagovailoa’s latest injury was, with his arms falling into a fencing response, it was consistent with how he had acted after each of the other concussions he sustained.
Tagovailoa has been spotted visiting with neurologists in Pittsburgh, as he has done in the past, and doctors seemingly have not told him anything strong enough that would change his mind about wanting to continue playing the sport that has been a part of his life since his childhood.
Not only has Tagovailoa consulted with some of the same doctors he visited after previous head injuries, he also has visited with new ones, trying to gather as much information as possible in making a clear determination about his future. But as one source told ESPN earlier this month: “He’s 100 percent playing.”
Tagovailoa also has insisted that he has felt fine. After sustaining a concussion in the Dolphins’ Week 2 Thursday night game against the Bills, he was symptom-free shortly thereafter. Rather than go to a local hospital, Tagovailoa remained in the Dolphins’ locker room, greeted his teammates and demonstrated few signs he had experienced another traumatic episode involving his brain.
The Athletic first reported Saturday that Tagovailoa was expected to resume practicing next week.
Tagovailoa, 26, has a history of concussions since entering the NFL in 2020. He was diagnosed with two concussions during the 2022 season and sustained a third hit to the head that led to the NFL altering its policy on how concussions are reported.
After he was diagnosed with a concussion on Dec. 26, 2022, the Dolphins effectively shut him down for the rest of the season; he progressed through the league’s protocol once the season ended.
Tagovailoa will sit out his fourth game Sunday when Miami travels to Indianapolis to play the Colts. But Tagovailoa will be eligible to come off injured reserve next week and return Oct. 27 for Miami’s home game against the Cardinals.
Miami has started two quarterbacks in Tagovailoa’s absence: Skylar Thompson and Tyler Huntley; the latter was signed from the Ravens’ practice squad and started his first game two weeks later after an injury to Thompson.
The Dolphins plan to continue starting Huntley until Tagovailoa’s return. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said the team’s Week 6 bye allowed Huntley to “really jump into” the finer points of the Dolphins’ complex offense.
Though the Dolphins will closely and carefully monitor him, there is a growing sense Tagovailoa will be behind center as early as next week.
Tagovailoa already has been taking part in team meetings, standing on the sideline for every game he has sat out and taking part in all team activities, except practices and games.