Dolphins' McDaniel Expects Tua Tagovailoa to Play in 2024 in Return from Concussion

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel revealed on Monday that he expects quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to return from a concussion before the end of the 2024 season.

"There's still information he's seeking this week," McDaniel said, per the Sun Sentinel's David Furones.

"I do expect him to be playing football in 2024," he added.

McDaniel confirmed that Tagovailoa won't play in Week 7 as he remains on injured reserve but said that the "process continues" as he looks to recover from a concussion that he suffered during the Dolphins' Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 12 (via ESPN's Jeremy Fowler).

It's a positive sign for the Dolphins that the 26-year-old could be back on the field this season, as McDaniel said on Sept. 13 that he had "zero idea" regarding a timeline for the signal-caller to return (via Kevin Patra of NFL.com).

Tagovailoa also appeared to be progressing in his recovery prior to the latest update on Monday. McDaniel was optimistic about the quarterback's rehab when speaking to reporters on Oct. 7, explaining that the "final stages" of concussion protocol "won't be achieved until we bring him back off IR," per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

"Everything is so far so good," McDaniel said.

The Pro Bowl signal-caller is eligible to resume practicing with his teammates on Oct. 23.

In two games before suffering the concussion, Tagovailoa completed 64.5 percent of his throws for 483 yards and two touchdowns to go along with three interceptions. He was also sacked four times.

It was a slow start to the year for Tagovailoa, as he was coming off a 2023 campaign in which he recorded a league-leading 4,624 pass yards and helped the Dolphins achieve a record of 11-6. He was rewarded with a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension in July.

Miami's offense has struggled mightily without the former first-round pick under center, averaging just 10 points per game in three contests since his injury to go along with a 1-2 record.

Tyler Huntley has started the past two games for the Dolphins, racking up 290 yards and an interception through the air without a passing touchdown.

Sitting at 2-3, Miami will attempt to stay competitive in the AFC playoff picture until Tagovailoa makes his expected return.