It has been a whirlwind of a season for the Miami Dolphins and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
At one point in the season, the team was gunning for the AFC East crown thanks partly to a strong campaign from Tagovailoa. However, things have unraveled for Miami. It has lost four straight contests to fall to 8-7 on the season.
The Dolphins are also in danger of missing the 24-year-old for the rest of the 2022 campaign, which could affect their chances of extending their season. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, it’s an “open question” if Tagovailoa will sit out Miami’s remaining games.
From @NFLGameDay: The next step for #Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa is an open question. They are taking it day-by-day. pic.twitter.com/8CiQegMk5p
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 1, 2023
“Tua now remains in the protocol and did spend the week consulting with various experts to figure out what is the next step and what can he best do to make sure that his health is the first and foremost important thing,” Rapoport said. “It is an open question whether or not Tua plays next week or again this season. As Mike McDaniel said, they are taking it day by day, and the outcome of today’s game will not affect whether Tua plays next week.”
The quarterback is already confirmed to be out for the team’s Week 17 bout against the New England Patriots after sustaining a concussion in Week 16.
In his place, veteran Teddy Bridgewater will get the starting nod. If Tagovailoa cannot suit up again this season, he will miss Miami’s Week 18 contest against the New York Jets as well as the playoffs (if the Dolphins get that far).
Whether or not Tagovailoa has played his last game for Miami in the 2022 season, his campaign can still be viewed as somewhat of a success. He owns a 64.8 completion percentage this season to go along with 3,548 passing yards and 25 passing touchdowns in 13 games.
Unfortunately, injuries got in the way of what could have been an MVP campaign for the University of Alabama product. Earlier in the season, he missed two contests also due to a concussion. As many fans remember, the Dolphins found themselves in hot water around that time, with many people feeling like the team didn’t put Tagovailoa’s safety first.
Tagovailoa’s most recent bout with a concussion has also courted some controversy because of the circumstances surrounding the diagnosis, although the league already approved the handling of the situation after reviewing it.
Of course, head injuries should always be treated seriously because they can impact players’ long-term health. Some outlets have called for Tagovailoa to take a step back to recover from his injuries, and time will tell if the rising star does so.
