While a chorus of commentators are opining that Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa should never play football again after sustaining another concussion on Thursday night, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel isn’t ruling the former Alabama All-American out of the next game.
“I don’t see how he would play in the next game,” McDaniel said on Friday. “I don’t see it, but who am I to know or judge?”
McDaniel also isn’t ruling out the retirement option for the quarterback. And that’s his point: What happens next for Tagovailoa should be up to the quarterback and his doctors and speculating about what’s next for the QB will only slow his recovery.
“I think it would be so wrong of me to even sniff that subject (retirement),” McDaniel said, “… His career is his, and that’s something that I really, really, really wish – I totally understand it and it’s not misplaced. I totally get how that’s where people want to go to. I just wish that people would for a second hear what I’m saying: That bringing up his future is not in the best interest of him, so I’m going to plead with everybody that does genuinely care that that should be the last thing on your mind because – what do you think if I were to 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 him worse, so I’m not taking this opportunity.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate simply because of my care and regard, and I don’t think those types of conversations when you’re talking about somebody’s career — it probably is only fair that their career should be decided by them.”
During Miami’s 31-10 loss to Buffalo, Tagovailoa did not get up after being tackled at the end of the 6-yard run on a fourth-and-4 snap from the Bills 13-yard line. After being checked on the field, Tagovailoa walked to the sideline and continued to the locker room, leaving the game with 4:24 remaining in the third quarter.
McDaniel, who said he considers “Tua as a family member of mine,” kissed the quarterback on the side of the head as he left.
“I told him he’s the starting quarterback of his family,” McDaniel said, “and to go in the locker room, take a deep breath and I’ll see you soon.”
In talking with reporters on Friday, McDaniel did not provide an update on Tagovailoa’s condition.
The retirement reaction to Tagovailoa’s concussion was prompted by the quarterback’s concussion issues in the 2022 season, when he missed fives games and half of another because of two concussions.
McDaniel said his experience told him not to add to Tagovailoa’s anxiety with a timeline for his return.
“Realistically for me, first and foremost, I’m not assessing the injury through the lens of: All right, so what does this mean for him playing?” McDaniel said. “… All the science behind concussions tells you what we’ve learned is how delicate the time is right after an injury and how important it is that you don’t institute extra sources of anxiety. So from my vantage point, I feel it’s supremely important, in understanding that, that I’m not giving off any sort of vibes, I’m not trying to even look at, ‘OK well, how serious is this relative to his past ones?’ …
“Talking about or having any sort of assumptions or planning – like I have no idea and nor should I, and I don’t want to because I want him to be healthy. And the best way to be as healthy as fast as possible is to not focus on anything but being present — for him with Ace and Maizy and Annah, and that’s it.”
Skylar Thompson took over at quarterback for the Dolphins after Tagovailoa left Thursday night’s game. With Tagovailoa in the NFL’s concussion protocol, Miami has two available quarterbacks – Thompson and Tim Boyle of the practice squad.
McDaniel said he anticipated the Dolphins adding another QB before they take on the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 22.
“I think the way to best articulate where we’re at is the team and the organization are very confident in Skylar,” McDaniel said about the quarterback situation, “and, see, there was a reason he was our backup quarterback. That being said, we will bring in someone. We’re just evaluating the pros and cons for the different situations and getting through all those possibilities to do the best thing for the team. But as it stands today, I’m expecting that Skylar is the next man up.”
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
