A story that will revive the debate on concussion protocols.
Miami Dolphins star Tua Tagovailoa was hospitalized with a neck and head injury Thursday in his team's 27-15 NFL regular season loss to Cincinnati, four days after he was injured. passed a concussion protocol in another game against Buffalo.
"The quarterback (QB) is aware and can move his limbs to their extremities," the Miami franchise said in a tweet.
Shortly before the break, Tua Tagovailoa was tackled in the legs by a Cincinnati Bengals defender.
The action seemed rather innocuous but the QB of the Dolphins fell badly on his cervical, his neck and the back of his skull.
The image appeared much more impressive in slow motion, seeing her fingers on both hands suddenly stiffen as if uncontrollably.
The medical staff of his team then intervened to put a neck brace on him and then evacuate him on a stretcher.
A situation all the more complex that last Sunday, Tua Tagovailoa had already suffered an injury during the success of his team against the Buffalo Bills (21-19).
His head had hit the ground violently after a tackle from an opponent.
Tua immediately got up but couldn't walk on his own and collapsed again.
Returning to the locker room in the second quarter, he returned after the break to finish the game after having passed without incident the concussion protocol imposed in this type of situation.
The QB had even been the hero of the meeting by allowing his team to win in extremis.
Critics fell on the decision of the Florida team to return to the game after this dangerous action.
“When he hit his head on the ground, I assumed it was a head injury.
But his legs became wobbly because his lower back was completely loose, as he described to us,” coach Mike McDaniel explained after the game.
These explanations did not prevent the players' union (NFLPA) from opening an investigation into the way the concussion protocol was carried out and the Dolphins' decision to bring Tagovailoa back on the field.
Under the 2020 collective bargaining agreement, the NFLPA, the players' council, or any player has the right (either independently or collectively) to file a complaint regarding a potential breach of concussion protocol.
