Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa in concussion protocol again

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is in concussion protocol, coach Mike McDaniel said Monday. Here’s what you need to know:

• Tagovailoa played every offensive snap in Sunday’s 26-20 loss to the Packers.
• McDaniel said that Tagovailoa displayed symptoms and was placed in the protocol Monday.
• Tagovailoa was previously in concussion protocol after suffering a head injury against the Bengals earlier this season. The circumstances surrounding that incident prompted the NFL to make adjustments to its concussion protocol.

Backstory

Tagovailoa was taken off the field on a stretcher in Week 4 after being slammed hard to the turf by Bengals defensive lineman Josh Tupou. He sustained head and neck injuries and was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.

The quarterback had been evaluated for an apparent head injury in the first half of the previous game but was allowed to come back in the second half. The NFL launched an investigation into the Dolphins’ handling of Tagovailoa’s Week 3 evaluation and ultimately adjusted the league’s protocol.

After being placed in the protocol earlier this season, Tagovailoa missed two games.

In the first half against the Packers on Sunday, Tagovailoa was 9-for-12 for 229 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions. In the second half, he was 7-of-13 for 81 yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions.

The Dolphins, 8-7, are second in the AFC East.

Tua makes right call entering concussion protocol

McDaniel told reporters that Tagovailoa met with doctors today and told them he had symptoms of a concussion. The last time he went through the protocol, it prompted the NFL to make a change to better protect players. But this time, Tagovailoa’s situation is much more representative of how players have to be their own advocates.

No one noticed Tagovailoa receive any questionable hits on Sunday. Not the concussion spotters, not the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultants, and not his coaches or teammates. There is no foolproof way to prevent players from continuing to play through concussions because they often might not notice their symptoms until the game is over. As for the Dolphins’ playoff hopes, Teddy Bridgewater is a more than capable backup, but when backup quarterbacks have had to play this season, Miami has lost all three games. Without Tagovailoa, the Dolphins don’t pose much of a postseason threat. — Kahler

Evaluating the Dolphins’ playoff chances

After adjusting for the uncertainty of Tagovailoa’s status for the rest of the regular season and possibly the postseason, the Dolphins’ playoff projections fall 5.0%. These projections give him a 10% chance of playing in Week 17, and a 50% playing in any game after that. — Mock

Who steps up in Tua’s absence?

Teddy Bridgewater is a serviceable backup and the weapons on the Miami offense should make things easier for him. He’s been a little careless with the ball this season — three interceptions in 58 attempts — but he hasn’t started and finished a game yet this season.

Starter repetitions in practice should give him enough familiarity with his targets to keep his turnovers down and keep the Dolphins more than likely to grab a wild card spot in the AFC playoffs. — Mock

Required Reading

(Photo: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)