NFL Won't Influence Tua Tagovailoa's Potential Return to Dolphins from Concussion

The NFL says it will "not have a role" in deciding when Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa can return to the field following the third diagnosed concussion of his professional career, Kevin Seifert reported for ESPN.

Other than the NFL and NFLPA's enforcement of concussion protocol, Tagovailoa's decision will be guided by outside medical experts, NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills said Friday on a conference call.

"Patient autonomy and medical decision-making really matters," Sills said, per Seifert. "And I think that's what we have to recognize goes on with our concussion protocol as well. Ultimately when patients make decisions about considering their careers, it has to reflect that autonomy that's generated from discussions with medical experts giving them best medical advice."

The Dolphins placed Tagovailoa on injured reserve after he suffered a concussion on Sept. 12 during a Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He will be eligible to return at the earliest on Oct. 27 for a Week 8 contest against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Dolphins, who are off to a 1-3 start to the season largely while missing both Tagovailoa and backup Skylar Thompson, will need to consider their starter's long-term health while helping him prepare to return to the field.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Monday's episode of NFL Live that Tagovailoa is "symptom-free" and on track to start against the Cardinals.

"I think he's gonna be back, and I think that that's something that a lot of people at the time thought was challenging, if not unlikely," Schefter said (h/t ClutchPoints' Ryan Bologna.) "And the fact of the matter is, he has been symptom-free, and he's felt better.

"And he's visited with neurologists, and to my knowledge, I don't think anybody's said to him, 'you can't do this.' I don't think anybody's said that."

Sills, who has expressed confidence in the ability of the Dolphins' medical staff to help Tagovailoa navigate recovery, was hired by the NFL as the league's first chief medical officer in 2017.

Sills also worked with the Dolphins' medical staff during each of Tagovailoa's prior diagnosed concussions. The second concussion, which Tagovailoa suffered during the 2022 season less than a week after hitting his head on the turf in a prior game, prompted an investigation into and update of the league's concussion protocol.

Sills said at the time that Tagovailoa would likely not have been allowed to play in the game during which he suffered the second concussion under the new protocol.

If Tagovailoa can pass this updated protocol, and is taken off of IR at the end of the month, it doesn't sound like Sills and the NFL plan to intervene.