Tua Tagovailoa expresses frustration after being labeled "concussion-prone" as Dolphins QB eyes Week 8 comeback
Tua Tagovailoa is all set to return from the injured reserve list. He missed four games after suffering a concussion in the Buffalo Bills game in Week 2. The Miami Dolphins offense seemed to truly suffer without him. Now, Dolphins fans can let out a sigh of relief.
But should he be back on the gridiron so soon? While four weeks is the league-stipulated time a player has to spend in concussion protocol, the situation is different for Tagovailoa.
He has suffered his third concussion now, and he addressed these concerns at Monday's press conference.
When a reporter asked about why he was returning to the game so soon despite analysts labeling him "concussion prone," he seemed frustrated and said:
“I appreciate your concern. I really do. I love this game, and I love it to the death of me. That’s it."
Tagovailoa said that he had been free of any symptoms usually associated with concussions and that he was going to tune out any noise, which said that he should retire.
When asked if he would rest longer if medical experts asked him to, Tagovailoa said:
"It’s based off whatever that individual feels. If you feel like you can go, [you can go]. This is only becoming a thing because of what happened two years ago [when he seemed to sustain two concussions in five days]. We don’t look at hockey players and boxers the same way, that it’s becoming more of an issue here in the league." (H/T Yahoo! Sports)
Tua Tagovailoa refuses to wear guardian cap in upcoming game
According to NFL Research, wearing a guardian cap can reduce the shock of a hit by up to 10%. Will Tagovailoa wear it, especially since he has had many concussions before? His answer was, "No." When asked the reason for his decision, he said:
"Personal choice."
The Dolphins have lost three of their last four games without Tua Tagovailoa as their QB. On Sunday, they'll face the Arizona Cardinals at their home stadium.
Without Tagovailoa at their helm, they've just managed to rake in an average of 10 points per game. While there's no official statement that he will be playing in Week 8, he has been listed as "tracking to play" by the team.