When Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered yet another concussion during last week’s game against the Green Bay Packers, there was some concern that the league’s concussion protocol was not correctly followed, especially after a video of Tagovailoa’s head violently hitting the turf went viral and a teammate revealed the quarterback was acting different in the huddle. The incident sparked a joint investigation between the NFL and the NFLPA, but it appears that there was no wrongdoing.
As reported by NFL insider Adam Schefter of ESPN, the investigation found no violations of the league’s concussion protocol in the handling of Tua Tagovailoa.
NFL and NFLPA, which released this joint statement, say there were no violations of concussion protocol last week regarding Dolphins’ QB Tua Tagovailoa: pic.twitter.com/pC14KF1gRJ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 31, 2022
“The NFL and NFLPA concluded their joint review of the application of concussion protocol involving Miami Dolphins’ quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers. The joint review determined the protocol was not triggered. The protocol is initiated when a player receives an impact to the head and exhibits or reports signs or symptoms suggestive of a concussion. The review established that symptoms of a concussion were neither exhibited nor reported until the following day at which time the team medical personnel appropriately evaluated and placed Mr.Tagovailoa in the concussion protocol,” the statement read.
This is a somewhat surprising outcome given that a similar investigation earlier this season led to rule changes and the firing of the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant.
