Tua Tagovailoa Concussion: Damar Hamlin sends prayers for Dolphins QB
The Miami Dolphins suffered a double whammy against the Buffalo Bills in the season debut of Thursday Night Football. Not only did they suffer a 21-point blowout loss at home, but also lost their quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to injury.
Late in the third quarter, the Dolphins were facing a 4th-and-4 in the red zone and opted to go for it rather than settling for a field goal as they were desperate to close the 21-point gap on the scoreboard. With the pocket collapsing, Tagovailoa saw yards of space just past the line of scrimmage and decided to rush for the first down.
Bills safety Damar Hamlin read the play and stepped into Tagovailoa's running lane to stop his progress. The Dolphins star spotted the defender and dove to get enough yardage to move the chain. However, he crashed headfirst into Hamlin and stayed on the floor after.
The Dolphins' medical staff rushed to the floor as players took a knee to pray for their quarterback. After a lengthy interval, he got back on his feet, walked to the sideline and went straight into the blue medical tent. Minutes later he was ruled out of the game with a concussion. The latest incident was Tagovailoa's third concussion in two years after he suffered two concussions during the 2022 season.
After the game, Hamlin posted a heartfelt message for Tagovailoa on X/Twitter:
"My love and prayers with Tua [for sure]. Sending you strength and healing for a speedy recovery. Much love broski."
The Bills' safety is no stranger to serious injuries. In Week 17 of the 2022 NFL season, Hamlin took to blow to the chest during his team's Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals and collapsed to the floor.
It was initially reported that Hamlin had suffered a cardiac arrest but it was later revealed he had an episode of commotio cordis, a rare and fatal condition if not treated within three minutes.
Tua Tagovailoa Injury Update: Dolphins HC provides positive update
During the post-game press conference, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was asked about his quarterback's health. He revealed that Tagovailoa was conscious and in good spirits in the locker room.
During the broadcast, sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung reported that Tagovailoa had full movement in all his extremities and had his family by his side. Despite the positive news, he will likely miss the Dolphins' trip to Washington in Week 3, where they'll take on the Seattle Seahawks.
Quarterback Skylar Thompson will likely start the game with Tim Boyle expected to be activated from the practice squad. However, if Tagovailoa is sidelined for an extended period, Miami could dip into the free-agent market to sign a temporary backup.