Miami Dolphins quarterback Teddy Bridgewater exited the team’s Week 5 battle against the New York Jets after just one snap.
He needed to leave the game after possibly sustaining a head injury. The team also reported that the veteran quarterback injured his elbow.
It seems that Bridgewater could have made a return after reportedly passing all concussion tests. However, the new concussion protocol that was recently rolled out prevented the 29-year-old from playing further.
Bridgewater out because of new concussion protocol even though he passed all concussion tests per cbs
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) October 9, 2022
As such, the Dolphins quarterback woes continue. Starter Tua Tagovailoa is already out because of a concussion. In fact, the updated protocol that the league and players union recently agreed on stemmed from how Tagovailoa’s case from the past two weeks was handled.
Fans will surely remember that the University of Alabama product possibly got a concussion during Miami’s Week 3 battle against the Buffalo Bills.
After a hard hit by a Bills linebacker in the first half of that game, Tagovailoa seemed to be disoriented and stumbled to his feet. He was evaluated under the league’s previous concussion protocol and was cleared to play. The decision drew the ire of some fans and pundits.
Four days later, he suffered a concussion and needed to leave the Dolphins’ match versus the Cincinnati Bengals. The scene on the field was terrifying and the series of events led to an uproar across the league.
The 24-year-old quarterback is reportedly doing well. However, Miami plans on being “very cautious” on how it is handling the situation.
As for the NFL, it has quickly moved to stave off any similar incident from occurring now and in the future. Incidentally, Bridgewater is reportedly the first player to be ruled out by the latest concussion protocol.
Because Bridgewater was removed under the new rule, he will be placed into concussion protocol even though he passed the normal concussion tests. So, he'll need to go through all the steps, including clearance by an independent neurologist, before he's allowed to play again.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 9, 2022
The addition of the term “ataxia,” defined as “abnormality of balance/stability, motor coordination or dysfunctional speech caused by a neurological issue,” seems to be the new rule that led to Bridgewater failing to get clearance to resume playing.
With Tagovailoa and Bridgewater out, rookie Skylar Thompson has taken the reins for the Dolphins. Thompson was drafted by Miami in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. It will be interesting to see if the first-year player can step up and lead the team to a victory over the Jets.
