Crucial Decision Made On Tua Tagovailoa's Injury Status

The Miami Dolphins are placing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve as they continue to monitor his concussion status, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to NFL Network 's Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport on Tuesday (September 17) prior to the team's confirmation.

"Roster Moves | We have placed QB Tua Tagovailoa on the reserve/injured list and signed QB Tyler Huntley off Baltimore’s practice squad. We have also signed T Jackson Carman to the practice squad and released WR Robbie Chosen from the practice squad," the Dolphins wrote on their X account less than an hour after Garafolo and Rapoport's report.

Tagovailoa suffered his third documented concussion in three seasons during the Dolphins' Thursday Night Football blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills. Tagovailoa, 26, is currently in concussion protocol and backup Skylar Thompson , who took over in his absence on Thursday, as well as during a Wild Card round playoff loss to the Bills in 2023, is expected to start in Sunday's (September 22) game against the Seattle Seahawks. Miami also signed former Pro Bowl quarterback Tyler ' Snoop ' Huntley off the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad on Monday (September 16).

Tagovailoa reportedly has no plans to retire and already consulted specialists on the next steps to take after suffering his third documented concussion in two years, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed Rapoport on Sunday (September 15).

"From @NFLGameDay : #Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa has no plans to retire, sources say. He’s already begun seeing concussion specialists and will continue to do so, but there is no timeline to return. Tua will be back when he and his doctors deem him healthy and ready," Rapoport wrote on his X account, along with a clip of himself appearing on NFL GameDay discussing Tagovailoa's injury status.

Several former NFL players , including Prime Video Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez and former Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick , Tagovailoa's Dolphins teammate during his rookie season in 2020, called on Tagovailoa, 26, to consider retirement amid his latest concussion. The former first-round pick suffered his third diagnosed concussion in three years during the third quarter of the Dolphins' blowout Thursday Night Football loss to the Buffalo Bills after attempting to go head-first into safety Damar Hamlin .

Tagovailoa previously said he considered retirement after suffering multiple concussions during the 2022 season before returning for a 2023 campaign in which he recorded career-best passing numbers.

“Yeah, I think I considered it, you know, for a time, having sat down with my family, having sat down with my wife and having those kind of conversations,” Tagavaolia said at the time via the New York Post . “It would be hard for me to walk away from this game with how old I am and with my son. It’s my health. My body. I feel like this is what’s best for me.

“I always dreamed of playing as long as I could to the point where my son knew what he’s watching.”