Tua Tagovailoa taking a new approach after concussion comeback

Tua Tagovailoa’s impressive performance against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday marked more than just a strong statistical outing; it underscored his resilience after past concussion issues that raised questions about his career longevity.

Despite the Dolphins’ 31-17 loss, Tagovailoa displayed remarkable confidence and poise, completing 23 of 32 passes for 216 yards and a touchdown.

Facing a dominant Eagles defense, Tagovailoa stayed cool under pressure, standing tall against an aggressive pass rush. His growth since his concussion setbacks has reassured both the team and fans of his potential as a franchise quarterback.

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As ESPN reported, it was a new look for Tagovailoa, who appeared to have a bit more self-preservation than he has been known for. "I'm just trying to avoid the big hits if I can. Sometimes they're unavoidable," Tagovailoa said following the game.

"If there's a free rusher and you got to get the ball out, you take a hit, but just for me putting myself in those situations, I would say just obviously for the past five weeks, I have been able to just really think and ponder about my decisions."

Although the Dolphins couldn’t secure a win, Tagovailoa’s steady performance suggests that his concussion issues are behind him – at least for the moment.

It comes after months of mounting public pressure on the Miami Dolphins quarterback to retire in light of his concussion issues.

The 26-year-old suffered the fourth diagnosed concussion of his pro career during the Week 2 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Tagovailoa was taken out of the game in the second half following a hard collision with an opposing player that knocked him to the ground. The Dolphins quarterback had kept the ball on a fourth-and-four play, sprinting toward the first down marker to extend the drive, but ended up colliding with Bills safety Damar Hamlin.

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After the impact between Hamlin's chest and Tagovailoa's head, the quarterback was visibly in pain, writhing on the ground as his teammates urgently signaled to the sideline for medical assistance for the 26-year-old.

A slow-motion replay of the collision revealed Tagovailoa’s neck snapping back upon contact with Hamlin.

One brain expert claimed that the hit was so severe it has left Tagovailoa with a "traumatic brain injury," as reported by the Sun.

Dr. Chris Nowinski, a neuroscientist and CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, shared the seriousness of the injury on social media, emphasizing that there is no "magic number" of concussions to determine when an athlete should retire.

Posting on X during the game, Dr. Nowinski wrote: "Tua suffered a traumatic brain injury on this play, no question. His right arm displays the 'fencing posture,' which indicates a loss of consciousness and is on the severe end of the concussion spectrum. He's done for the night and must sit out the next game."

It followed three concussions that plagued his 2022/23 season.

Several former NFL players, including Dez Bryant and Shannon Sharpe, urged the 26-year-old to retire from football to safeguard his long-term health, not just for himself but for the well-being of his friends and family as well, as reported by ESPN. 

Even Antonio Brown, who has been notoriously derisive of the impact of chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE, a brain disorder linked to ongoing head injuries, said Tagovailoa should call it quits.

"In all seriousness, Tua may want to rethink playing football in the future depending on severity," Brown tweeted. "Concussions not something to mess with"... though it’s not clear if this was meant to be tongue in cheek or not.

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CTE leads to the buildup of abnormal proteins in the brain, resulting in symptoms like memory loss, confusion, mood swings, and impaired judgment. Over time, it can progress to more severe conditions, including dementia.

The NFL has faced scrutiny over its handling of head injuries, prompting changes to safety protocols and concussion management. However, CTE remains a significant concern, with many former players being diagnosed posthumously after years of cognitive decline.

These officially include, as reported by the New York Times, center Mike Webster, quarterback Ken Stabler, linebacker Junior Seau, safety Dave Duerson and running back ​Frank Gifford – to name just a few – highlighting how the risk of brain injuries can happen all over an NFL field.

Unfortunately, there is no way to test whether a living person definitely suffers from CTE, though there are a number of retired players who have shown symptoms of CTE, including Antonio Brown and Joe Namath.

Retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce recently revealed on X in May 2024 that he suspects he suffers from CTE, attributed to his 13-year career in the NFL. 

"I mean I can virtually guarantee that I have CTE, all the research would suggest I have some degree of it," he stated. "I think it is entirely reasonable to assume I have some degree of that pathology."

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