Another Dolphins Quarterback Exits With a Head Injury

The protocols changed because of a joint review initiated by the N.F.L. Players Association after Tagovailoa’s head hit the field after a tackle Sept. 25 against the Buffalo Bills. He slowly rose to his feet, shook his head and then stumbled after taking a few steps. He was evaluated in the locker room for a concussion, but did not show symptoms, and Tagovailoa was cleared to return after doctors concluded he had aggravated a back injury.

Four days later, against the Cincinnati Bengals, Tagovailoa’s head again bounced against the field after a tackle, causing him to lie on the ground for nearly 10 minutes. He was briefly hospitalized and discharged that night, but he was diagnosed with a concussion. He must complete a five-step recovery process before returning to play.

The league and the players’ union said Saturday that the investigation found that the protocols were followed regarding Tagovailoa’s injury against the Bills. But both parties agreed to add an extra layer of caution before allowing potentially concussed players back into games.

“You can write that ‘they’re abandoning the protocol and improving the protocol,’ but really we’re building on better, more precise language, like, ‘ataxia,’ without exception, as a way to protect the player,” Dr. Thom Mayer, the union’s medical director, said Friday in an interview.

McDaniel said he agreed with the new protocols and the investigation’s findings.

“I’m happy that there’s some policy that the medical experts deem is more safe for the players collectively,” McDaniel said. “As far as the determination that things were followed appropriately, that didn’t surprise me. That’s what I’ve been saying from the beginning.”

In the past two weeks, discourse — and consequences — around head trauma injuries spiked. The union dismissed the unaffiliated neurologist who evaluated Tagovailoa at the Bills game. Tony Dungy, a former coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts, was critical of the league after Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate was allowed to return against Kansas City on Oct. 2 after his head collided with a teammate’s torso.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/09/sports/football/dolphins-jets-score.html