The Dolphins quarterback suffered a concussion – the third-known head injury of his NFL career – during the team’s loss to the Buffalo Bills last month.
Tagovailoa slammed to the turf following a hit by Damar Hamlin during the third quarter of the Week 2 matchup and appeared to go straight into the fencing response.
The terrifying scenes sparked a flood of calls for the signal caller, who has suffered with multiple head injuries dating back to 2022, to retire from the game.
Despite the increasing fears for the player’s safety, McDaniel revealed that Tagovailoa could make a return before the New Year.
The coach confirmed that the quarterback is expected to not only play again but to do so in 2024.
Tagovailoa is still on Injured Reserve, which has ruled him out of three games and will do so for at least one more, but is eligible to resume practicing on October 23, according to Ian Rapoport.
The Dolphins return to action against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday after a bye week over the weekend.
However, Tagovailoa will not make his return at Lucas Oil Stadium, McDaniel said, with a comeback expected to come later in the season.
McDaniel added that the quarterback is still seeking information from experts as the ‘process continues.’
The Dolphins have managed to win just one of their three games without the starting quarterback, narrowly beating the New England Patriots with Tyler Huntley under center on October 6.
Tagovailoa collided with Bills safety Hamlin in the open field and led with his head instead of sliding. The signal caller went down after the collision, slamming his head on the Hard Rock turf.
He has now suffered three known concussions in the NFL, after his 2022 season was cut short by head injuries.
In Week 3 of that year, he was rocked by a huge tackle and went into the fencing response, but later returned to the game.
In Week 4, he exhibited concussion symptoms again after another brutal hit and was stretchered from the field.
Later in the season, in Week 16, he suffered yet another concussion, which ended his season, and sparked a change to the NFL’s concussion protocol.
And the latest scare has led many former players to call for Tagovailoa to put his health as a priority.
Former NFL star Dez Bryant led the charge of calls for his retirement on social media as Tagovailoa was led out of the game.
‘That’s it,’ Bryant wrote. ‘NFL go ahead and do the right thing. Tua has had entirely way too many concussions. He need to retire for his longevity health concerns.’
NFL legend Shannon Sharpe echoed Bryant’s sentiments, saying: ‘Really hope Tua is ok, but he’s gotta seriously think about shutting it dwn. I H8 saying this. His concussions are getting worse and worse and he’s a young man with his entire life ahead of him.’
Meanwhile, Manti Te’o, a former NFL player and close friend, tearfully urged Tagovailoa to make ‘the right decision.’
However, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel previously refused to discuss the possibility of Tagovailoa hanging up his cleats as he insisted it has the player’s decision to make.