It was a grim scene Thursday night time as Tua Tagovailoa scrambled for Damar Hamlin’s arm, however as an alternative of slipping he went headfirst On to the bottom.
The Miami Dolphins’ star quarterback confirmed off his fencing reflexes on “Thursday Evening Soccer” for the second time in three years. Recalling his harm in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022 prompted comprehensible concern and concern on social media. “Oh, no, Tua.” “Not once more.”
Not like 2022, when Tagovailoa was carried off the courtroom on a stretcher, he left the courtroom below his personal energy Thursday night time. Inside minutes, he was identified with the third recognized concussion of his NFL profession. He additionally has one at Alabama.
It’s not my place to inform Tagovailoa to hold them up. I am not a health care provider, I am not a part of Tagovailoa’s interior circle, and I’ve by no means had a concussion myself. However when former NFL gamers (not soccer critics, however precise stars) begin saying you must retire, it’s important to take into account whether or not they have some extent.
“Actually hope Tua is okay, however he should severely take into account shutting it down,” Shannon Sharpe wrote on X (previously Twitter). “I H8 say so. His concussions are getting worse and he is a younger man along with his complete life forward of him.
“That is it…the NFL continues to do the fitting factor,” Dez Bryant wrote, apparently arguing that the league ought to step in and pressure Tagovailoa to retire. “Tua suffered too many concussions. He must retire resulting from longevity well being points.
When you do not significantly respect the views of Sharp and Bryant, they don’t seem to be alone. On Amazon Prime’s post-game present, Tony Gonzalez stated, “I am excited about retiring right here” … after which awkwardly adopted it up with the worst alternative of phrases: “For me, it is It appears pure.
Former participant and front-office director Louis Riddick: “A part of the dialogue goes to be about whether or not he ought to preserve taking part in. Once more. That is the truth. It makes me sick. However it’s a part of the dialogue now. Simply hope. This man is protected and wholesome.
There’s a sort of keyboard reactionary on the market who will say that Tagovailoa knew what he was signing into as he pursued his soccer profession and that the entire concussion factor was exaggerated. This is the factor: We do not have laws that claims whether or not tackling must be authorized for everybody, or at what age it ought to begin. That is a separate dialog. We don’t agonize over what occurs when the hits begin popping out. For Tagovailoa, the thrill has arrived.
Understand that Tagovailoa has admitted to contemplating retirement after a tough 2022 season. The person handed concussion protocol at an alarming price in Week 3, terrified the soccer world in Week 4, and suffered one other recognized concussion in December. We’re lower than two years away from this purpose.
Amazon sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung stated late in Thursday’s recreation that Tagovailoa was alert and had motion in his limbs. She additionally reported that his household was within the locker room with him. His mom requested him to rethink his profession within the 2023 offseason.
No matter Tagovailoa decides, his NFL profession will likely be outlined by his battle with concussions. We all know an excessive amount of about CTE to not ignore gamers with a historical past of concussions. Everybody’s bodily restoration is totally different, however on the finish of the day, we solely have one mind.
