Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa Out vs. Bills with Concussion, Replaced by Skylar Thompson

Adam WellsSeptember 13, 2024

Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion during the third quarter of Thursday’s game against the Buffalo Bills and was ruled out for the remainder of the contest.

He took off running on a fourth-down play and ended up going head first into Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Players immediately went to a knee as trainers came onto the field to assist him.

Tagovailoa ended up walking off the field under his own power and went to the locker room. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald relayed an update:

Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzzPer Amazon streamingcast, Tua is conscious, awake, alert and has full movement in extremities. With family in locker room.

Skylar Thompson entered the game for the starter after the injury.

“I was just worried about my guy. Not something that you ever want to be a part of,” head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters after the game.

McDaniel added that the quarterback is in “good spirits.”

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen also discussed Tagovailoa’s injury after the game:

Cameron Wolfe @CameronWolfeJosh Allen on Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion: “Understanding what’s happened in the past, just know I’m praying for him and his family. He’s a great football player but I’ve been around him outside the football field & he’s an even more amazing human… Hope everything is alright.” pic.twitter.com/qWz0FVFY93

NFL on Prime Video @NFLonPrime”He’s one of the best humans on the planet.”

Josh Allen has a lot of love for @Tua.#TNFonPrime pic.twitter.com/fjq9vAbaDL

Patrick Mahomes and JJ Watt were among those who reacted as soon as it happened:

Patrick Mahomes II @PatrickMahomes🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

JJ Watt @JJWattOh no Tua.

🙏🏼

Injuries have been an issue for Tagovailoa throughout his NFL career, though he was able to stay healthy and appeared in all 17 games last season.

Tagovailoa suffered two diagnosed concussions throughout the 2022 season that kept him out of action for four games. One of his concussions occurred in a Week 16 loss against the Green Bay Packers, but he played the entire game and it wasn’t revealed until the next day he was in concussion protocol.

In an attempt to protect himself from head injuries next season, Tagovailoa said he started incorporating jiu-jitsu into his training regimen during the offseason because it teaches him “how to fall and try to react throughout those positions that I’m getting thrown around in.”

Hopes were high for the Dolphins in 2024 coming off back-to-back postseason appearances. The Dolphins committed to Tagovailoa in the offseason by giving him a four-year, $212.4 million extension that keeps him under contract through 2028.

Miami’s ceiling depends on Tagovailoa being able to stay healthy. He is coming off a 2023 season in which he led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards and threw a career-high 29 touchdowns.