Tua Tagovailoa was sidelined after suffering a concussion in Week 2 – with the Miami Dolphins star having since returned to help inspire his team to three straight wins
Tua Tagovailoa was sidelined after suffering a concussion in Week 2 – with the Miami Dolphins star having since returned to help inspire his team to three straight wins Tua Tagovailoa was sidelined after suffering a concussion in Week 2 – with the Miami Dolphins star having since returned to help inspire his team to three straight wins
Tua Tagovailoa’s choice to resist retirement calls following a series of head injuries has been justified on the pitch, as he spurred the Miami Dolphins to three straight wins.
The quarterback was benched after suffering a concussion during his team’s Week 2 face-off against the Buffalo Bills, making his comeback in Week 8 against the Arizona Cardinals. In the time between his return, there was speculation about whether the 26-year-old should think about retiring.
This marked the third time that Tagovailoa had suffered a concussion in his NFL career, leading to widespread concern within the football community about his health. However, the Dolphins star later confirmed that he had been symptom-free during his five weeks of recovery.
Since his return against the Cardinals, the Dolphins have enjoyed three consecutive wins, establishing a 5-6 record and putting them in the running for a playoff spot. Despite Miami’s strong run, they’ll need to keep winning to secure a postseason place. A challenging journey to Green Bay to take on the 8-3 Packers is up next on Thanksgiving.
Tagovailoa’s teammates had floundered without him, with the Miami offense ranking as the worst in the NFL this season prior to his return. Since his reintroduction, the quarterback’s influence has boosted the team – with the star throwing four touchdown passes in the latest victory over the New England Patriots.
After bouncing back from injury, Tagovailoa was clear about his future in the sport, stating: “It never stuck in my mind that I was ever thinking of retiring.”
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Image:
Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
“Whether the doctors told me that or not, it would have just been information for me,” he continued. “With what I was doing working out week-to-week, I’m in here everyday. It’s like a no-brainer, what am I working hard for then?”
Reflecting on a concussion he suffered in Week 2, he recounted: “I would say from the second it happened, obviously not a good feeling being out on the field, knowing the situation. Trying to do all I can to get a first down, not knowing, can I slide in this situation? It was forth down. Can I slide? Do I have to go for it?
“If you look at that play again, I looked to the right before I scrambled to see where the marker is before I go for it and dive for it. So I’m sort of re-tweaking everything.”
Tagovailoa then revisited the moment of impact with Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin, admitting: “I wasn’t planning on using my head [to tackle him]. I didn’t feel any ill-effects. It was pretty bad tackling form though. From the second it happened, obviously [it was] not a good feeling.
“I ended up making a decision that obviously everyone that has supported me – and everyone that doesn’t support me that has been looking and watching that game – would be like, ‘Dude, what are you doing?'”
Mirror – Sport