When will Tua Tagovailoa return? Injury update on Dolphins QB's concussion
Miami Dolphins fans relived sad moments last week when Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion. The veteran quarterback's head clashed with Damar Hamlin's chest in the Dolphins vs Bills duel on Thursday Night Football, forcing him to leave the game and sounding the alarms at Hard Rock Stadium.
On Tuesday, September 17, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that Tagovailoa could return in Week 8, but the Dolphins have stopped short of putting a definite timetable on his return. This will be a long process for Tua and the franchise is making sure that he's taken care of every step of the way.
Tua has a concerning history of concussions, dating from the 2022 season.
Tua Tagovailoa injury update
In addition, Rapoport says that the Dolphins placed Tagovailoa on Injured Reserve due to the concussion he suffered last week. The decision responds to their desire to give the former Alabama playmaker extended time to work through this situation and return to the field after being medically cleared. He's set to meet with outside neurologists as part of the process.
In the past five days, several fans and NFL personalities suggested he should retire given his injury history while others were more optimistic about Tua's return. The last word belongs to him, but these updates show that the Dolphins want to be as careful as possible during this process.
Who are Tua Tagovailoa's backups?
With Tua Tagovailoa out for at least four weeks (the minimum he'll be out on IR), the Dolphins will turn to Skylar Thompson, the initial candidate to take over the 2023 Pro Bowler. Thompson attempted 14 passes and completed eight against the Bills, passing for 80 yards.
Thompson has played eight games in his young NFL career (drafted as the 247th overall pick in 2022), posting a 1-1 record, throwing for 614 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
In addition to Thompson, Tyler Huntley could be in the mix to replace Tua, but it'll take more for him to get up to speed with the team's offense. He was signed off the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad on Monday, providing depth to the quarterback room.
Huntley has played 20 games in his career, posting a 3-6 record, throwing for 1,957 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions.