Report: Dolphins' Tagovailoa to meet with neurologists this week
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is scheduled to meet with neurologists early this week after suffering a concussion on Thursday Night Football, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.
The 26-year-old is seeking information on the severity of his latest head injury and the "cumulative effect" of his previous concussions to make an informed decision on his NFL future, Schefter adds.
However, Tagovaioloa has no plans to retire and is focusing on returning to the field, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
The NFL's leading passer in 2023 exited Thursday's contest after lowering his helmet into Buffalo Bills' safety Damar Hamlin's arm while scrambling. Tagovailoa stayed on the ground for several minutes but managed to walk off the field on his own power. The Dolphins ruled him out of the contest almost immediately.
Tagovailoa has four diagnosed concussions since 2019. He suffered two during the 2022 season and one in 2019 while playing at Alabama on the same play he dislocated his hip and broke his nose.
"You're talking about his career - his career is his," head coach Mike McDaniel said Friday when asked what the quarterback's future holds, per Schefter. "I just wish that people would for a second hear what I'm saying, that bringing up his future is not in the best interest of him.
"I'm going to plead with everybody that does genuinely care that that should be the last thing on your mind."
Miami signed Tagovailoa to a four-year, $212.4-million extension in July. The Dolphins drafted him fifth overall in 2020.