Tua Tagovailoa suffers concussion against Bills after retirement concerns raised

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was ruled out with a concussion after taking a major hit in second half of Thursday's NFL contest against the Buffalo Bills .

With less than five minutes remaining in the third quarter, Tagovailoa tucked the ball and scrambled up the middle on fourth-and-four. Just as the quarterback crossed the first down line, he attempted to lower his shoulder and crashed hard into the chest of Bills safety Damar Hamlin.

Slow-motion replay of the hit showed Tagovailoa's neck whip back after making contact with Hamlin. The 26-year-old promptly crashed to the turf, with his right hand balling up in a fist and his arm pointing straight into the air.

• Josh Allen has 'second coming of Travis Kelce' at disposal despite Bills exodus

• Carolina Panthers worst fears imagined after Bryce Young's tricky performance

Dolphins trainers swiftly rushed to Tagovailoa's aid and helped walk him off the field. Upon reaching the sideline, Miami head coach Mike McDaniel embraced his player and kissed him on the head.

Just six minutes after leaving the field and being escorted to the locker room, Tagovailoa was diagnosed with a concussion and promptly ruled out of the game, per Amazon Prime Video. He finished the night 17-of-25 for 145 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions, and was replaced by fellow signal-caller Skylar Thompson.

Tagovailoa's latest injury is all the more concerning given his extensive history with concussions. Back in 2022, he sustained a suspected concussion during a Week 3 matchup versus the Bills, during which he attempted to walk back to the huddle following a hit before stumbling over his feet and losing his balance.

Follow us on X for the best and latest in sports news

Just four days later, Tagovailoa suffered another major hit in a primetime matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals when he was violently thrown to the turf and slammed his head off the ground. After the fingers on both of his hands went into a rigid fencing position - a strong sign of brain damage - he was loaded onto a stretcher and transported to a Cincinnati-area hospital.

On the heels of the frightening incidents, Tagovailoa conceded that the thought of retiring from football did cross his mind - but he ultimately decided to remain in the NFL .

"I always dreamed of playing as long as I could to where my son knew exactly what he was watching his dad do," he told reporters last April. "Yeah, it’s my health, it’s my body. I feel like this is what’s best for me and my family. I love the game of football. If I didn’t, I would’ve quit a long time [ago].”

In an effort to combat the likelihood of concussions, Tagovailoa underwent weekly judo training sessions over the 2023 offseason to learn how to fall in a safer manner. "We've got a plan set up," he said last February. "I'll be doing judo on Fridays just so that I can kind of figure out understanding my body and how to fall... Just trying to help myself."

The regimen appeared to help Tagovailoa, who didn't suffer a concussion during the 2023 season.

Want to watch more live sports? Peacock has your favorite sports, shows, and more all in one place. Peacock offers plans starting at $7.99 so you can stream live sports like NFL, Premier League, and Big Ten Football.