Dolphins player Mike McDaniel is not worried about the schedule after Tua Tagovailoa’s injury

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered the third diagnosed concussion of his career on Thursday night during a scramble up the middle in the third quarter of a 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. In a frightening scene eerily reminiscent of his concussion from a 2022 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Tagovailoa demonstrated the “fencing reaction,” an unnatural position of the arms after a concussion.

Tagovailoa was able to leave the field and as he approached the sideline, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel kissed the veteran quarterback on the head.

There was no specific timetable for Tagovailoa’s return and he was immediately ruled out for the remainder of the game.

After the contest, McDaniel told reporters that Tagovailoa was in “good spirits” after the game, but that he is not currently concerned about the timeline for his return to the field.

“Right now, it’s more about getting a proper evaluation of the process tomorrow and taking it one day at a time,” McDaniel said. “The thing that’s least on my mind is the timing.”

“We just have to evaluate the situation and just worry about my teammate. … We’ll get more information tomorrow and then go day by day from then on.”

When asked if the team will handle this injury situation differently than it did in 2022, McDaniel reiterated that Tagovailoa’s well-being as a person is his primary concern.

“I think it’s important to approach each individual situation … each injury with the mindset of, ‘We’re going to get through this particular situation with this particular player,'” McDaniel said.

“Every situation is unique. I’m not worried about things that are outside of my control. I’m only worried about the human. He will steer the ship when we get the appropriate information.”

“But it’s about day-to-day health… especially when it comes to concussions.”

Tagovailoa has been diagnosed with four concussions in the last five years, including two during the 2022 season that led to the Dolphins having to take the quarterback out of the game for the entire season – and the veteran quarterback considering early retirement.

The league and NFL Players Association also launched an investigation into the handling of Tagovailoa’s injury situation and ultimately fired the club’s neurological consultant who cleared the quarterback to return. Concussion policies were also changed to allow observers to recommend that a player with concussion symptoms be removed from the game.

Dolphins backup QB Skylar Thompson finished Thursday’s game in place of Tagovailoa and would likely start for the club in Week 3 if Tagovailoa is unable to play.