Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa took a knee to the head as he attempted to tackle Los Angeles Rams linebacker Christian Rozeboom following an interception
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa took a knee to the head as he attempted to tackle Los Angeles Rams linebacker Christian Rozeboom following an interception Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa took a knee to the head as he attempted to tackle Los Angeles Rams linebacker Christian Rozeboom following an interception
Fans were left seething at Tua Tagovailoa, the Miami Dolphins quarterback, after his concession that his head-first tackle against the Los Angeles Rams was “pretty bad form.”
The NFL signal-caller orchestrated a pivotal 23-15 victory for the Dolphins over the Rams in Monday Night Football’s clash at SoFi Stadium. Despite showcasing solid passing stats of 20-of-28 for 207 yards and a touchdown, Tagovailoa’s performance was marred by an interception leading to a risky tackle attempt that could’ve ended in serious injury.
Having only recently come back from a five-week concussion hiatus following a hit taken against the Buffalo Bills in Week 2, Tagovailoa found himself in hot water when his pass meant for Jaylen Waddle was snatched by Rams linebacker Christian Rozeboom. In trying to correct his error, Tagovailoa resorted to a head-on tackle on the return, which saw him cop a knee to the head.
The 26-year-old dropped to the field, but after being checked out, continued playing for the remainder of the match. Nevertheless, this incident has left fans wracked with worry – especially since Tagovailoa seemed to joke about it and even suggested he’d do it again.
“I wasn’t planning on using my head [to tackle him]. I didn’t feel any ill effects,” Tagovailoa informed media, before conceding with a seven-word statement: “It was pretty bad tackling form though.”
Following his latest health scare, fans blasted Tua Tagovailoa for neglecting his well-being. One tweeted: “Tua will probably suffer another concussion or two before he retires. He will most likely suffer from CTE later in life and end up suing the NFL for letting him play.”
(
Image:
ESPN)
Another said: “He’s a great player. But he’s going to have complications for life after his football career. The kid has no clue how to protect himself even after being taught over and over. He’s on the fast road to life-altering brain damage.”
An incredulous fan remarks, post-Tagovailoa snubbing the Guardian Cap: “I can understand him still wanting to play football. I don’t have a problem with him making that decision. But what I find really stupid is his refusal to wear a Guardian Cap. It’s not foolproof, but if it can reduce your chances of another concussion by 10 to 30 percent, why not wear it?”
Others implore the Dolphins to bench Tagovailoa to underscore his actions’ severity. Yet some support his autonomy, as one fan weighed in: “Stop treating this guy with kid gloves. He’s a grown man able to make his own decisions and besides that, he’s not the only guy out there suffering from concussions yet you all act like he is.”
Tagovailoa has made it clear that hanging up his helmet isn’t on the cards, as no medical professionals have suggested he should quit the game. He emphatically stated: “If they were to tell me that I couldn’t play, I would have definitely taken that into consideration, but there were no talks like that. It never stuck in my mind that I was ever thinking of retiring. Whether the doctors told me that or not, it would’ve just been information for me. 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?”
The quarterback’s team, the 3-6 Dolphins, are set to face off against the 2-7 Las Vegas Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium come Sunday.
Mirror – Sport
