Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa on injury concerns amid return to practice: 'I love football to the death of me'

Wednesday marked nan first clip successful much than a period Tua Tagovailoa was capable to participate successful a Miami Dolphins practice. He sat retired nan past 4 games arsenic he recovered from his latest concussion.

Tagovailoa still needs to advancement done nan last stages of the NFL's concussion protocol successful bid to play Sunday's crippled against nan Arizona Cardinals. But returning to nan believe section gets him 1 measurement person to being capable to compete successful a game.

"I consciousness very bully astir really he attacked this full process and really he came retired of it to this day," Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said earlier Wednesday’s practice. "And you dream for a mates days of bully activity truthful past you person nary blips and you’re cleared to play."

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Miami Dolphins backmost Tua Tagovailoa talks connected nan sidelines during nan 2nd half of an NFL shot crippled against nan Tennessee Titans, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, successful Miami Gardens, Fla.  (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Tagovailoa has met pinch galore aesculapian experts who specialize successful encephalon and caput injuries since being diagnosed pinch nan third concussion of his NFL profession connected Sept. 12. The experts deemed it safe for him to return to football, McDaniel said Monday.

Tagovailoa said he would not deterioration a Guardian Cap, nan protective soft-shell helmet screen that is optional for players to deterioration successful games. He described nan determination arsenic a "personal choice." He already wears a quarterback-specific helmet designed to thief trim caput injuries.

Tagovailoa acknowledged immoderate of nan concerns of him perchance suffering different wounded connected nan shot field. "I admit your concern," Tagovailoa told reporters. "I really do. I emotion this crippled and I emotion it to nan decease of me. That’s it."

Miami Dolphins backmost Tua Tagovailoa (1) leaves nan section astatine nan extremity of nan first half during an NFL shot crippled against nan Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, successful Miami Gardens, Fla.  (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

He besides suggested that mundane life comes pinch immoderate level of liability. He besides made it clear that he is alert of nan inherent consequence that comes pinch playing successful nan NFL.

 "How overmuch consequence do we return erstwhile we get up successful nan greeting to spell thrust to work? Can get successful a car crash," Tagovailoa said. "Every clip we each suit up, we’re each taking a consequence that we could perchance get hurt, whether it’s a concussion, a surgery bone, thing you get up disconnected of nan furniture nan incorrect way, you perchance could consequence you spraining your ankle. There’s conscionable consequence successful immoderate and everything and I’m consenting to play nan odds."

Tagovailoa was concussed doubly successful 2022 — nan second of which concisely knocked him unconscious — and suffered a 3rd difficult deed to nan caput that was not diagnosed arsenic a concussion. 

Tagovailoa's Week 2 concussion came erstwhile he initiated interaction pinch Buffalo Bills protect backmost Damar Hamlin by lowering his enarthrosis into Hamlin alternatively of sliding. His teammates said they person since stressed that he should descent successful those situations successful nan future.

"We tin opportunity those things to him until we’re bluish successful nan face," said moving backmost Raheem Mostert. "But 1 point that I would say, there’s ever my saying ‘You tin bring a equine to water, but you can’t make him drink.’ We’re going to bring Tua to that water, but we can’t make him drink."

McDaniel added that erstwhile Tagovailoa does commencement backmost playing, making judge he is doing everything imaginable to protect himself will beryllium of nan utmost importance.

Miami Dolphins caput coach Mike McDaniel talks to backmost Tua Tagovailoa (1) arsenic he leaves nan crippled aft suffering a concussion during nan 2nd half of an NFL shot crippled against nan Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, successful Miami Gardens, Fla.  (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

"I deliberation he has a amended knowing of his work towards nan full statement astatine this constituent … and feels tremendous work to do thing successful his powerfulness to beryllium connected nan field, truthful portion of that is protecting yourself," McDaniel said. "He has to beryllium capable to protect himself, for him to sloppy of nan first down conversion that he’s trying to get, for him to beryllium connected nan section pinch his squad that he needs to beryllium smart astir really he engages successful contact."

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The Dolphins averaged much than 200 yards passing and 400 full yards per crippled pinch Tagovailoa past season. They were 2nd successful scoring pinch 29.2 points and led nan convention successful explosive plays of astatine slightest 10 yards.

Under Skylar Thompson, Tyler Huntley and Tim Boyle, Miami has not scored much than 15 points, and wide recievers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle person seen a important driblet successful their accumulation pinch Tagovailoa out, including a mixed 19 yards connected 2 catches successful Sunday’s nonaccomplishment to nan Indianapolis Colts.

McDaniel besides noted that Tagovailoa should not beryllium considered nan "savior" of Miami’s offense.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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