As the *cacophony* of outside calls for Tua Tagovailoa to reconsider his illustrious NFL career intensified over the weekend, the Miami Dolphins are being remarkably cautious, managing the injured quarterback’s situation literally “day by day.”
In practical terms, this means that the Dolphins are delaying a definitive decision on whether to place Tagovailoa on Injured Reserve (IR). They’re also shoring up their quarterback roster by signing Tyler Huntley from the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad to back up Skylar Thompson.
Addressing the media on Monday, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel emphasized that there is “not enough information yet” for both him and General Manager Chris Grier to make a call on placing Tagovailoa on IR, which would sideline him for at least four weeks.
Following his third known concussion in the NFL — a statistic that doesn’t even account for a previous one at Alabama and another suspected in 2022 — there have been numerous calls, including from several former NFL players, for Tagovailoa to consider retirement. However, according to NFL Network, Tagovailoa has no plans to hang up his cleats and has begun consultations with concussion specialists.
Not surprisingly, this topic was one McDaniel skillfully dodged. “I’m going to let Tua be the *champion* of his own race, and we’ll talk about it,” McDaniel remarked. The timeline for when Tagovailoa will address the media again remains unclear.
When asked about Tagovailoa’s current condition, McDaniel added, “He’s out there, *smiling* with his teammates, working diligently with the medical staff. He’s fine today. He feels fine. But what does that mean in terms of a medical diagnosis? I don’t base my judgments on my interactions with him as much as I do on the final *medical exam*.”
Notably, though Tagovailoa appeared to show a fencing response, he managed to leave the field under his own power this time, a stark contrast to a similar incident in 2022 when he was carried off in an ambulance.
Thompson, the sole remaining quarterback on the Dolphins’ 53-man roster, concluded Thursday’s game. Coach McDaniel confirmed that Thompson would start in Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks, with Huntley, freshly signed from the Ravens’ practice squad, backing him up.
“His game has evolved since he had the opportunity to be a starter in this league. His teammates can feel his *development* and his *growth*,” McDaniel lauded.
Thompson featured in seven games, two as starts, in 2022 but hasn’t seen the field yet in 2023. So far, he’s accumulated 614 passing yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions, with a 57.1% completion rate in his brief NFL career.
Huntley, aged 26, has been the start at least once in each of the last three seasons with the Ravens, stepping in for Lamar Jackson. Across his 20 career games (nine starts) since 2020, Huntley has amassed 1,957 passing yards, eight touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a 64.6% completion rate.
So, strap in, Dolphins fans! The ebb and flow of the NFL season is unpredictable, but one thing is for certain—there’s never a dull moment. Keep your eyes peeled as the Dolphins navigate these challenging waters.
