Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel shared optimistic news regarding quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s recovery from a concussion, stating he expects Tua to return this season, though no specific timeline was provided. Tagovailoa, who has been on injured reserve since his September 12 concussion, is eligible to return in Week 8 for the Dolphins’ game against the Arizona Cardinals.
While McDaniel did not confirm that Tua would return as soon as he’s eligible, this was the first time since the injury that the coach expressed confidence in Tagovailoa’s return to play during the 2024 season.
Tagovailoa’s concussion history is notable, as he has suffered multiple concussions since joining the NFL in 2020, including two in the 2022 season. His head injuries led to the NFL changing its concussion protocol. After a concussion late in the 2022 season, the Dolphins decided to keep him out for the remainder of the year, even though he later cleared concussion protocols. However, McDaniel indicated that this would not be the case this season, and they expect Tagovailoa to return once he is ready.
McDaniel emphasized that his primary focus has always been on Tagovailoa’s well-being rather than speculating whether he would play again. He stated that from the moment Tua got injured, the priority was ensuring the best decisions for Tua’s health and career. McDaniel said he refrained from contemplating the worst-case scenario of Tagovailoa never playing again, as his focus remained on the player’s recovery process and readiness for a return.
In Tagovailoa’s absence, the Dolphins have started two quarterbacks: Skylar Thompson and Tyler Huntley. Huntley, who joined the team from the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad, stepped in after an injury to Thompson. McDaniel mentioned that the team plans to continue starting Huntley until Tagovailoa is cleared to return, and the recent Week 6 bye gave Huntley valuable time to learn and adapt to the complexities of Miami’s offense.
Besides Tagovailoa, McDaniel provided updates on other injured Dolphins players, including linebacker Bradley Chubb, who is not expected to play this week due to a torn ACL, though no setbacks have occurred. Running back De’Von Achane’s status remains uncertain after suffering a concussion, but he did participate in Monday’s practice wearing a non-contact jersey. Safety Jevon Holland also returned to practice after breaking his hand, but his status for the upcoming game against the Indianapolis Colts is still unclear.
