Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will be back at practice Wednesday, Oct. 23, for the first time since week two of the NFL season. Tagovailoa suffered his third career concussion during the Dolphins’ matchup against the Buffalo Bills in September, forcing him to sit out the past four games.
With his history of head injuries, calls for the 26-year-old to consider retirement were revived. He says he “wasn’t paying attention to any of it.”
“I appreciate your concern, I really do,” Tagovailoa told reporters during a press conference Monday, Oct. 21. “I love this game, and I love it to the death of me.”
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“I think the brain is, it’s just very – there’s just a gray area when it comes to that,” Tagovailoa added. “If you do know that you’re gonna get long-term, you know, disease from it or if you’re not. I just think there’s a lot of gray with it. For me, this is what I love to do. This is what makes me happy and I’m gonna do it. That’s it.”
When Tagovailao was asked if he’d wear a Guardian Cap, like the one Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Luke Goedeke wore during the Monday, Oct. 21, game against the Baltimore Ravens, he simply said “nope.” When pressed on why not by a reporter, Tagovailoa said it was a “personal choice.”
Guardian caps are soft, protective helmet covers that the NFL has authorized players to wear during games this season in an effort to reduce head injuries. The NFL has mandated the caps be used at contact practice for most players since 2022, but quarterbacks, kickers, and punters are exempt from that rule.
If the Dolphins’ quarterback clears the NFL’s concussion protocol after Wednesday’s practice, he’s expected to start against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Oct. 27.