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Marcel Louis-JacquesESPN
MIAMI – Dolphin midfielder Tagovailoa was dropped from Sunday’s match against New York Jets Coach Mike McDaniel said as he continues to make progress through his concussion treatment.
There is no ‘definite timeline’ for Tagovailoa’s return after he leaves the Dolphins’ 27-15 lose arrive Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4. Teddy Bridgewater will start on Sunday in his stead.
Tagovailoa was taken to a local hospital after his head hit the pitch late in the second half of Thursday’s game in Cincinnati. He was diagnosed with a concussion but was discharged from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and allowed to fly home with the team early Friday morning. McDaniel said Tagovailoa’s scans came back “clean” – including the MRI he underwent in Miami – but it’s still too early to start thinking about his return to the field.
“He’s in the building right now. He’s had a good couple of days, but he’s just trying to get the process right and the protocol right so he feels 100%,” McDaniel said. “I know he’s going to be diligent with it. And if there’s obviously anything that’s causing him problems with the lights and that sort of thing, then we’re going to stop it.”
Tagovailoa was assessed as concussion after a similar situation in the Dolphins match against Buffalo Bills in Week 3. He hit his head on the ground and tripped while trying to get back into the crowd after he finished playing. He was immediately taken to the dressing room with a head injury, the team announced at the time.
However, he passed the assessment in the locker room and returned to close the game after halftime with both Tagovailoa and the Dolphins clarifying that his fall was caused by a back injury he suffered. encountered earlier in the game. The NFL’s chief medical officer, Dr Allen Sills, said Tagovailoa was checked daily before Thursday’s game, and McDaniel said his quarterback had been removed by an independent neurologist for any concussions. head injury.
The NFL Players Association has commenced the right to request a review of the NFL’s concussion protocol after his prompt return to the game and termination of an unrelated neurological injury consultation, who initially hit Tagovailoa price in the game Bills. The NFL and NFLPA also pledged to change the concussion protocol based on what both sides learned during the review. McDaniel said he supports the changes to protocol and reiterated his confidence in the handling of Tagovailoa’s injury throughout the week.
McDaniel said he is not directly involved in Tagovailoa’s evaluation process and that, in addition to ensuring the best interests of the players are taken into account, he usually does not interfere in matters outside his area of expertise. .
“I’m very concerned about that, that they’re responding and providing me with information. I don’t think I should be involved in identifying the obvious external concussion symptoms,” he said. “One thing that we operate in this organization is that they know first and foremost that the health and safety of the players comes first. The coaches know that’s how we handle things and the players. So delegate and ensure that, and be an additional voice of reason, say, ‘Hey, we’re not trying to get over something with unintended consequences pushed to people. play’ – I would always go into that from the executor’s point of view.
“But in terms of me interjecting an opinion that we have people who have gone to school and years of expertise, I think it would be a bit irresponsible if I were to try to kick in the door and say that your work me as a layperson not an expert.”
Behind Bridgewater, Dolphins have the seventh round draft pick in 2022 Skylar Thompson and they signed Reid Sinnettwho spent the 2021 season with the Dolphins, arrived at their practice team on Monday afternoon.
A previous first pick of Minnesota Vikings in 2014, Bridgewater also spent time on Jets, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers and Dancer broncos before signing with Miami this season. He won both games with the Jets in his career, completing 38 of 52 544-yard passes, two touchdowns and one interception.
McDaniel expressed confidence in Bridgewater as a starter for the team no matter how long this stint may last.
“We have a lot of faith in Teddy Bridgewater. That’s one of the reasons why you decide to go that direction for a season and your backup midfield priority is for these times,” McDaniel said. . “We went out and signed him, and it’s one of the better things that could happen to us because of the dynamics of the team – because of his contributions to the way Tua plays and his ability to play. his play, as well as his role in the development of Skylar.
“So he’s got a big role. Everyone has a lot of confidence in him. He’s done it before; it’s a different deal than starting off the bench. Teddy knows. that and he’ll be fully prepared and ready to go. I don’t think the team will catch their eye when we sign them up on Sunday.”
