DeMaurice Smith, the executive director of the NFL Players Association, has vowed to pursue “every legal option” to investigate a potential protocol violation by the Dolphins concerning quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
After Tagovailoa was carted off the field in Miami’s loss to the Bengals on “Thursday Night Football” – just four days after he appeared wobbly after taking a big hit against the Bills – Smith texted the following message to Amazon’s Andrew Whitworth, who is a former NFLPA player rep:
“We insisted on these rules to avoid exactly this scenario. We will pursue every legal option, including making referrals against the doctors to licensing agencies and the team that is obligated to keep our players safe.”
Smith’s message came after Tagovailoa was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center by ambulance following a scary scene in the second quarter.
Tagovailoa hit the back of his head on the ground after he was sacked by Bengals nose tackle Josh Tupou, and his arms appeared to seize up. He remained on the field for nearly 10 minutes before he was loaded onto a stretcher and carted off.
The NFLPA had already requested a separate review of the NFL’s concussion protocols four days prior when Tagovailoa suffered an injury in Sunday’s win over the Bills. The quarterback hit his head on the ground and then stumbled multiple times while trying to return to the huddle.
Tagovailoa underwent concussion evaluations at halftime during Sunday’s game. The team initially listed the quarterback as questionable to return due to a head injury, but later said it was a back injury that caused him to stumble on the field. Tagovailoa later said that he passed every evaluation before he returned to Sunday’s game.
You hate to see this for Tua. He has shut up the haters with his play and was battling toe to toe with the vaunted Buffalo Bills and MVP favorite Josh Allen. Praying for his health and for a full recovery from this. pic.twitter.com/1OV8Sq8ocj
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) September 25, 2022
After Miami’s 27-15 loss to the Bengals, Dolphins first-year head coach Mike McDaniel said Tagovailoa suffered a concussion and nothing “more serious.”
The team said in a tweet that Tagovailoa flew back to Miami with the Dolphins on Thursday night.
“Player health and safety is at the core of the union’s mission,” the NFLPA tweeted after Tagovailoa was carted off the field on Thursday. “Our concern tonight is for Tua and we hope for a full and speedy recovery. Our investigation into the potential protocol violation is ongoing.”
On Thursday, McDaniel explained that Tagovailoa underwent evaluation and was cleared by an independent doctor, which led to him returning to Sunday’s game.
“Yeah, otherwise, we would’ve reported him having a head injury. That’s why the NFL has these protocols,” McDaniel said. “There’s an independent specialist that specializes in the specialty of brain matter so, for me, as long as I’m coaching here, I’m not gonna fudge that whole situation.
“If there’s any sort of inclination that someone has a concussion, they go into concussion protocol that’s very strict. People don’t vary or stray, we don’t mess with that. Never have. And, as long as I’m the head coach, that’ll never be an issue you guys will have to worry about,” he said.
Teddy Bridgewater will lead the Dolphins’ offense while Tagovailoa is sidelined.
