CNN
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Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is included in the NFL’s concussion protocol, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said at a press conference Monday.
The announcement comes a day after Tagovailoa played an entire game as the Dolphins lost to the Green Bay Packers. It’s the second time this season that the 24-year-old quarterback has landed on concussion protocol.
Also, months after he was in the spotlight for an apparent head injury, the league and players’ union agreed to update protocols.
McDaniel said Monday afternoon that he only learned “hours ago” that Tagovailoa had shown symptoms of a concussion and was put into league protocol by medical staff. I couldn’t pinpoint a sexual moment.
The coach said it was unclear whether Tagovailoa would be able to play against the New England Patriots this week.
“I care a lot about each and every player,” McDaniel said. Whatever the situation, you deal with it after that, it’s about the man and making sure he’s squared off.”
Tagovailoa was diagnosed with a concussion on September 29 after being sacked against the Cincinnati Bengals. He missed the team’s next two games.
That concussion came days after Tagovailoa suffered an apparent head injury, after which he was cleared to continue playing in a game against the Buffalo Bills on September 25.
A concussion is a brain injury that occurs after an impact to the head causes organs to move back and forth within the skull. However, even after the brain itself stops shaking, changes can still occur in the organ.
In October, Tagovailoa said he did not remember being taken off the field during the September 29 game.
“I was unloaded from the cart – I don’t remember it,” he said. “But I do remember being in the ambulance and arriving at the hospital.”
He said the process of going through the protocol was stressful.
“But it’s all done for player safety and I’m glad I had to go through those things to better understand the concussion trade. Long term, short term. I thought it was great to be able to go through that process,” Tagovailoa said at the time.
The Dolphins occupy the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC, one game ahead of the Patriots. The Dolphins have two weeks left in the regular season.