As a lifelong sports enthusiast and someone who has witnessed the evolution of football over the years, I can’t help but feel a pang of concern for Tua Tagovailoa. His career, marked by incredible talent and resilience, is now marred by the shadow of concussions. It’s not just about the numbers, it’s about the long-term effects these impacts might have on his health.
Concerns have arisen among fans regarding the number of concussions sustained by Tua Tagovailoa, following the Miami Dolphins quarterback’s injury in the match against the Buffalo Bills on September 13. The impact with Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin left him lying on the field for several minutes before being helped off. Notably, this isn’t the only time Tagovailoa has been diagnosed with a concussion during his career, sparking discussions about whether he may have had too many concussions and should possibly consider retirement.
How many concussions has Tua had in his career?
In an official statement, it’s clear that Tua Tagovailoa has experienced a total of four concussions, specifically: three while playing in the NFL and one during his time with the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2019. Here is a timeline of his history with these injuries, listed in the order they occurred:
On the 16th of November, 2019, during our college game against Mississippi State, I took a hard hit from two defenders that left me landing awkwardly on the field. According to ESPN, I sustained injuries including a dislocated and fractured hip, a broken nose, and a concussion.
In a September 25th, 2022 matchup against the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins’ quarterback sustained a head injury after colliding with the ground. He was escorted to the locker room for treatment. The NFL Players Association suspected he returned to play prematurely and, according to ESPN, terminated an independent neurotrauma consultant who had assessed his condition during that game. However, it wasn’t classified as a concussion officially.
In a match-up against the Bengals towards the end of the season, Tagovailoa suffered a concussion in the second quarter following a sack by Josh Tapou, which caused him to briefly strike the back of his helmet on the ground. He was subsequently taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for examination and was diagnosed with a concussion. To add to this, he endured another concussion just a few months later in a Christmas Day game against the Green Bay Packers.
Regarding the question of how many concussions are too many, doctors emphasize that it’s a case-by-case basis rather than a fixed number. In an interview with the Washington Post in 2022, Dr. Mark Halstead, director of the Sports Concussion Program at Washington University in St. Louis, stated that there is no definitive “magic number” for concussions.
Repeated impacts to the head, especially common among football players due to frequent helmet clashes, can elevate the chances of developing several brain-related conditions or diseases over time.
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2024-09-13 20:40