Dolphins Rumors: Tua Tagovailoa Hasn't Experienced 'Lingering Issues' from Concussion

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has missed the team's past three games due to a concussion, but he reportedly hasn't felt any ill effects over the past month.

According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Tagovailoa saw multiple specialists and underwent tests after being placed on injured reserve, but "he has not dealt with any lingering issues from the concussion and would play right now if he could."

The Dolphins placed Tagovailoa on the reserve/injured list on Tuesday, Sept. 17, five days after he suffered a concussion in a 31-10 defeat to the Buffalo Bills.

The injury happened after he collided head-first into the chest and upper arm of Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who was attempting a tackle, after rushing for a first down late in the third quarter.

On Tuesday, Sept. 17, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport reported that the Dolphins placed Tagovailoa on IR "in order to give him ample time to progress through the stages of concussion protocol and meet with outside neurologists." The IR placement sidelined Tagovailoa for a four-game minimum.

Garafolo also added that "the Dolphins are committed to placing no timeline on him as he works through a deliberate process and eventual return to play."

Tagovailoa has been diagnosed with three concussions during his time in Miami: one in September 2022 against the Cincinnati Bengals and one in December 2022 versus the Green Bay Packers.

There was also an incident in September 2022 in which Tagovailoa appeared dazed following a hit against the Buffalo Bills, per Alanis Thames of the Associated Press.

"In a September 2022 game against the Bills, he took a hit from linebacker Matt Milano, which caused him to slam to the ground. He appeared disoriented afterward and stumbled as he tried to get to his feet. He was cleared to return to that game and later said it was a back injury that caused the stumble. He was not diagnosed with a concussion."

Tagovailoa has unfortunately suffered other serious injuries. In November 2019, Tagovailoa suffered serious hip injuries (dislocation and a fractured posterior wall), a broken nose and a concussion after taking a hit from Mississippi State defenders. In September 2021 against the Bills, Tagovailoa suffered fractured ribs that kept him out for three games.

Tagovailoa has been a star over the past few years, notably leading the league in quarterback rating (105.5) and yards per attempt (8.9) in 2022 and passing yards (4,624) in 2023. He's also helped lead Miami to back-to-back playoff appearances in 2022 and 2023. That marked the first time the Dolphins made the playoffs in two straight years since Miami earned postseason berths from 1997-2001.

Tua is eligible to be activated from IR following Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts, but the team has yet to make an official announcement regarding whether it plans to immediately activate him.

Tyler Huntley is in line to start for the Dolphins again on Sunday, as they look to improve their record to 3-3.