Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel emphasized his concern for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's health following a serious head injury suffered during Thursday night’s game against the Buffalo Bills. Tagovailoa, who was injured in the third quarter of the Dolphins’ 31-10 loss, collided with Bills safety Damar Hamlin while diving for a first down. He remained on the field for a time before being assisted by the team’s medical staff. Although Tagovailoa eventually walked off under his own power, he was replaced by backup quarterback Skylar Thompson.
McDaniel addressed the media on Friday, expressing that his main focus was on Tagovailoa’s recovery, rather than his potential return to the field. “It’s important that he heals day by day. The best thing I can do is not to assess what this means from a football perspective,” McDaniel said during a video conference. He noted that Tagovailoa was resting when he attempted to reach out and would be undergoing an “after action” review with medical experts later in the day.
This latest concussion is the third known head injury for the 26-year-old quarterback during his NFL career. McDaniel declined to speculate on the severity of the injury or a possible timeline for Tagovailoa’s return. He emphasized the importance of handling the recovery process carefully, stating, “The science behind concussions shows how delicate the time is right after an injury. The focus needs to be on health, not football timelines.”
McDaniel also dismissed questions about whether Tagovailoa might consider retirement, reaffirming confidence in backup quarterback Skylar Thompson. McDaniel, who was hired by the Dolphins in 2022, has led the team to two playoff appearances during his tenure and has a 21-15 record.
The Dolphins’ next game is scheduled for September 22, when they travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks.
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