The NFL world was shocked Monday by the news that Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was back in concussion protocol for the third time this season. While the team says they didn’t notice anything during this weekend’s game against the Green Bay Packers, it appears that the injury may have been captured during the broadcast.
In a video shared by ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter (and also noted by Twitter user Michael Williams), Tua takes a snap with a little under three minutes left in the 2nd quarter and scrambles to avoid a defender, eventually tossing the ball to a receiver. However, a Packers defender gets to him as he throws the ball, wrapping up his feet, and causing him to fall to the ground where he appears to smack his head on the ground.
This would seem to be the play on which Dolphins’ QB Tua Tagovailoa was injured, when his head bangs the ground. pic.twitter.com/zCQXadHm2r
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 26, 2022
Warren Sharp then went as far as to break down how Tua played before and after that play. The difference is stark. Before the hit, he was 9 of 12 for 229 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions. After the hit, he was 7 of 13 for 81 yards, zero touchdowns, and three interceptions.
if this play at 2:40 was Tua's concussion, here are his stats:
pre-concussion: 9/12, 229 yds, 19.1 YPA, 1 TD, 0 INT
post-concussion: 7/13, 81 yds, 6.2 YPA, 0 TD, 3 INTspic.twitter.com/0FvirTtxnR
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) December 26, 2022
While the Dolphins led the game 20-10 at that time, the quarterback had the worst second half of his NFL career, throwing three interceptions in three-consecutive drives which allowed Green Bay to win the game, 26-20. The quarterback discussed the interceptions after the game but didn’t seem to infer that there were any concussion-related issues involved.
According to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, head coach Mike McDaniel said that he’s not sure when Tua might have suffered a concussion. “Nobody recognized anything with regard to” a hit. “It was something he met with doctors today and discussed some symptoms.”
That would explain why Tua was allowed to continue playing in spite of taking such a brutal hit to the ground once again.
[Adam Schefter, Michael Williams, Warren Sharp]
