Tua Tagovailoa’s coach announced on Friday that the quarterback for the Dolphins would probably miss the team’s next game and maybe longer because he was instructed to focus on becoming the “starting quarterback of his family.”
A violent collision with Buffalo Bills defender Damar Hamlin during the third quarter of the team’s 31-10 loss to them on Thursday night resulted in injuries for Tagovailoa.
The Dolphins head northwest to meet the Seattle Seahawks in their next game, which is scheduled for one week from Sunday. Coach Mike McDaniel of Miami stated that Tagovailoa and his physician would decide whether or not to participate.
“I’m not sure how he would perform in the upcoming match. To reporters, McDaniel said, “I don’t see it.”
Additionally, McDaniel stated that the Dolphins are looking to acquire a new quarterback to supplement Miami’s practice squad quarterback Tim Boyle and now-expected starter Skylar Thompson, suggesting that the organization is willing to play without Tagovailoa for an extended period of time.
“The team and the organization are very confident in Skyler,” McDaniel stated. “That being said, we will bring in (another quarterback).”
In an attempt to convert on fourth down, Tagovailoa scrambled to earn first down by passing the line, then he lowered his helmet and struck Hamlin hard in the midsection. The quarterback went down and didn’t seem to be able to get back up as players from both sides yelled for help right away.
It seemed as though McDaniel whispered a message to Tagovailoa as he was leaving the field.
“I told him he’s the starting quarterback of his family, to go to the locker room, take a deep breath and I’ll see you soon,” McDaniel said on Friday.
About 20 months ago, during a “Monday Night Football” game in Cincinnati, the tackler Hamlin had to have his heart stopped and had to be revived on the field.
Despite that near-death experience, Hamlin continued with his profession, and McDaniel stated he was unable to counsel Tagovailoa on what to do next.
“I think it would be so, so wrong of me to to sniff that subject,” McDaniel said, worried that he would put Tagovailoa under unnecessary pressure for voicing such a viewpoint.
“If I would answer that question, I’d be like, ‘All right, this is my thoughts on his career’ and he read it, if he agreed with it or he disagreed with it, either way, I’ve just made it worse.”
Antonio Pierce, the coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, noticed the frightening moment on “Thursday Night Football”. Additionally, given Tagovailoa’s history of head injuries, the former linebacker for the New York Giants gave some uninvited counsel to the Miami quarterback.
To be honest, I would advise him to give up. On Friday, Pierce told reporters, “It’s not worth it.” “It’s not worthwhile. When I played the game, I didn’t observe anything similar to what I’ve seen happen to him three times. Unsettling. On Thursday night, you can watch the players’ faces in real time. Everyone’s sense of desperation to seek Tua assistance is evident.”
Pierce conveyed to Tagovailoa, 26, McDaniel’s message that family comes first.
The Las Vegas coach stated, “I just think that at some point, he’s going to live longer than he’s going to play football.” “Look after your family.”
Tagovailoa had two frightening concussions in 2022, which caused him to miss a number of games.
His 2023 campaign was spectacular, as he threw for a league-high 4,623 yards. In July, Tagovailoa was rewarded by the Dolphins with a $212.4 million deal that has a $167 million guarantee for four years.
