The NFL players’ association has terminated the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant who was involved in Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion check, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reported Saturday.
The Dolphins were under investigation by the NFL and the players’ association regarding how Miami handled Tagovailoa’s return to Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills, despite appearing to be disoriented by what the team originally said was a head injury before declaring it was a back injury.
Tagovailoa was hit by Bills linebacker Matt Milano late in the first half and appeared to hit his head on the turf. He stumbled when he got up and was immediately taken to the locker room, where he was evaluated for a concussion. He returned to the game at the start of the third quarter and was not in the concussion protocol the following week, despite questions about why he was allowed to return to the game at all after displaying what the NFL concussion protocol describes as “gross motor instability.”
By NFL rule, those in-game evaluations when concussions are suspected involve not just team medical personnel but also an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant.
The investigation was reportedly initiated before Thursday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals when Tagovailoa was sacked by defensive tackle Josh Topou late in the first half. On that play, he spun awkwardly and was thrown to the turf. While on the ground, Tagovailoa appeared to display the fencing response, with his fingers frozen in front of his face.
He remained down for more than seven minutes before being loaded onto a backboard and stretchered off the field. He was taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center for evaluation.
The Dolphins later said he was conscious and had movement in all of his extremities. He was discharged Thursday night and flew back to Miami with the team.
Tagovailoa had a headache Thursday night and Friday morning, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. The team was waiting for results from the MRI, which McDaniel said was done out of “extra precaution” on top of the CT scans and X-rays taken the night before.
McDaniel said he had no timetable on when Tagovailoa might be able to return.
— With files from The Associated Press.
