Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered the third diagnosed concussion of his NFL career in a Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills and has been out since.
When he suffered that concussion, many around the NFL urged him to retire for his own good, especially considering how each subsequent concussion can raise someone’s risk of neurological problems such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
However, Nick Saban, Tagovailoa’s college coach at the University of Alabama, recently said that his former player has remained positive and that he wants to play again if he’s able to.
“He’s good. He’s always positive and very enthusiastic,” Saban said on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “… He really wants to play. Whether he ever can play, or get the opportunity to again, I guess that’s a medical decision somebody has to make.”
“I talked to Tua and he’s always very positive..
He’s the best and he’s such a good person..
He does everything the right way and the guy is just phenomenal” ~ Nick Saban #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/J2L4JfmoU9
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 11, 2024
Tagovailoa’s first couple of seasons in the NFL were rough, which had some questioning Miami’s decision to take him with the No. 5 overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft ahead of Justin Herbert, who immediately turned into a star for the Los Angeles Chargers.
But Tagovailoa showed significant improvement in his third season, and last season made the Pro Bowl for the first time while leading the league with 4,624 passing yards and throwing a career-high 29 touchdown passes.
Without him, the Dolphins have struggled mightily.
They immediately went on a three-game losing streak starting with that game against the Bills, and although they defeated the New England Patriots in Week 5, their offense has been sputtering.
They have reached the 20-point mark just once — in Week 1, the only full game Tagovailoa has played this season — and they’re last in total passing touchdowns and in points scored per game.
Even worse, Skylar Thompson, their backup quarterback, suffered a rib injury in Week 3, but luckily, they’re currently on their bye week, which will give him time to recover before Miami plays the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7.
