NFL chief medical officer on concussion protocol for Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa, what’s subsequent

Tua Tagovailoa didn’t exhibit signs of a concussion in the course of the Dolphins’ sport towards the Green Bay Packers final Sunday, someday earlier than getting into concussion protocol, the NFL’s chief medical officer mentioned.

In an interview aired on NFL Network Tuesday night time, Dr. Allen Sills mentioned there was “nothing that would have triggered the protocol” and led to Tagovailoa’s removing from the sport, resembling a blow to the pinnacle and subsequent harm signs.

According to the league’s protocol, a participant is to be faraway from a sport after a success to the pinnacle if he reveals or experiences indicators of concussions, or if a workforce’s athletic coach or physician, Booth ATC (impartial licensed athletic coach) Spotter, coach, teammate, sport official or sideline or Booth UNC (unaffiliated Neurotrama Consultant) spot an indication of a concussion.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel mentioned Tagovailoa, who performed everything of the 26-20 loss, was positioned in concussion protocol after reporting signs Monday. McDaniel mentioned he was unsure when Tagovailoa might have sustained a success that led to him experiencing signs. Sills mentioned some sufferers with concussions will current signs on a delayed foundation, which may come hours or a number of days after sustaining head trauma.

McDaniel mentioned Tagovailoa has not been formally identified with a concussion. But if the third-year participant is, it might be Tagovailoa’s second documented concussion this season. According to Sills, a small variety of gamers will undergo a couple of concussion in a season.

Regardless of a participant’s concussion historical past, Sills mentioned every participant suspected of a concussion faces the identical five-step course of to return to the sphere.

Tagovailoa sustained a concussion and was carted off the sphere on a stretcher in Cincinnati on Oct. 29, 4 days after hitting his head and remaining in a sport towards the Buffalo Bills. The incident sparked a joint investigation between the NFL and the NFL Players Association into the dealing with of Tagovailoa’s harm.

The two sides introduced that the league’s step-by-step protocol was adopted however the protocol was altered, including a brand new “no-go” symptom, ataxia, which might have saved Tagovailoa out of the Bills sport and certain sidelined him for the Bengals sport. Ataxia is an abnormality of stability/stability, motor coordination or dysfunctional speech brought on by a neurological challenge.

Asked whether or not Tagovailoa needs to be allowed to play once more this season, Sills mentioned medical doctors will clarify a participant’s scenario in any case knowledge is collected and permit him to have a voice within the decision-making. Before making his return from a two-game absence in Week 7, Tagovailoa obtained second opinions from a number of medical doctors.

“We have to make sure the athlete is fully recovered and then make sure their voice and their autonomy is respected in their decision-making process,” Sills mentioned.

McDaniel on Monday didn’t rule out Tagovailoa for Sunday’s street sport towards the New England Patriots. Teddy Bridgewater will take first-team reps in observe whereas Tagvoailoa is within the protocol and begin if he’s unable to play.