Dolphins' Mike McDaniel Told Tua To Be 'Starting QB of His Family' After Concussion

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel has no interest in focusing on when Tua Tagovailoa might return to the football field after suffering a concussion in Thursday's loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, McDaniel explained he told Tagovailoa he's "the starting quarterback of his family" while walking with him off the field to the sideline during the game.

Tagovailoa was injured late in the third quarter when he scrambled for a first down on fourth-and-4. He lowered his head and it collided with Bills safety Damar Hamlin's chest.

The Dolphins quarterback fell to the ground hard and appeared to hit the back of his head on the turf. He was diagnosed with a concussion and replaced by Skylar Thompson for the remainder of the game.

This is the third diagnosed concussion has suffered since entering the NFL in 2020. The first two came during the 2022 season, including one that occurred in the second quarter of a Week 16 game against the Green Bay Packers.

Tagovailoa wound up playing the entire game against the Packers. McDaniel said afterward the coaching staff didn't notice anything in the moment that made them question if he was injured, and it was only when reviewing the game tape they saw a change that was concerning.

"There were some things that caused us to really prod," McDaniel explained, "and as a result we felt that he needed to see medical professionals."

That concussion kept Tagovailoa out of action for the final two games of the regular season, as well as Miami's 34-31 loss to the Bills in the AFC Wild Card game.

Tagovailoa started every game last season for the first time in his career. He led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards and set a career-high with 29 touchdown passes.

Thompson will be in line to start for the Dolphins when they play in Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 22 if Tagovailoa is unable to play.