Getty Image
The 2022 NFL season has been a roller coaster for Miami Dolphins starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
On one hand, the former first-round pick has had the best of his three seasons in the NFL by a wide margin. Under first-year head coach Mike McDaniel and with wideouts Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle at his disposal, the third-year QB had thrown for 3,548 yards and eight touchdowns.
Both are career highs.
On the other hand, Tagovailoa has missed a significant period of time after suffering multiple concussions. The second of which caused a league-wide investigation.
On Sunday, Tagovailoa and the Dolphins dropped their fourth consecutive game to fall to 8-7 on the year and firmly on the AFC playoff bubble following an impressive 8-3 start. The Alabama product threw three interceptions in the game, including a pair in the fourth quarter that essentially sealed the game for the Packers.
As it turns out, Tagovailoa may well have had a good excuse. The Dolphins placed the signal caller into concussion protocol yet again on Monday, and one former NFL offensive lineman says it spells bad news for his future.
Ross Tucker Is Concerned For Tua Tagovailoa’s Future After He Suffers Another Concussion
Ross Tucker spent seven seasons in the NFL for a number of different teams. He now works as a TV and radio analyst and hosts his own NFL podcasts.
Tucker believes the latest injury to Tagovailoa could well have long-term implications that stretch beyond the football field.
“This is really bad for a lot of different reasons.”@RossTuckerNFL discusses Tua going back into the concussion protocol again: pic.twitter.com/wwQCiOeZuH
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) December 27, 2022
“Tua Tagovailoa is back in the concussion protocol. This is really bad for a lot of different reasons,” he says in a Twitter video. “So, number one, it’s bad because of Tua’s health. This is now what we believe to be his third concussion this season. That’s problematic. That is ‘should I continue playing the sport’ type of concerning. When you get three concussions in one year. And I know the first one they’re saying wasn’t a concussion. I don’t know many people that actually believe that. That’s number one.
“Number two, how does this happen in the second quarter? And his head hits off the ground and he’s never checked and he plays the rest of the game? And plays poorly, by the way, especially late. And then after the fact they put him in the protocol. That is concerning. That once again he played with what we believe is a concussion.”
It appears that the changes the NFL made to its protocols earlier in the season either didn’t work or aren’t being used. And Tagovailoa is once again the one suffering from the lack of proper oversight.