MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is going through with his plan to meet with neurologists this week.
Amid reports that the meetings were originally set for last week but there were scheduling conflicts with doctors, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said the timeline has never been thrown for a loop.
“For me, the plan has never changed,” McDaniel said Tuesday. “He’s meeting with neurologists this week, and the plan hasn’t changed and it’s being executed.
“That’s kind of where that stands. I don’t know ‘reports.’ I don’t know who’s ‘sources,’ but people should just talk to me. I got the real information.”
Tagovailoa, who was on the sideline Sunday for the Dolphins’ loss to the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field, missed the first of what will have to be at least four games while on injured reserve as he goes through the five stages of the NFL’s concussion protocol. It is not known which phase he’s in as of Tuesday.
Thursday would mark two weeks since he suffered his latest concussion, barrelling forward into Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin in a Sept. 12 loss to the Buffalo Bills as he ran for a first down on fourth down in the third quarter that night.
With the Dolphins’ next three games against the Tennessee Titans this upcoming Monday night and then on the road against the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts , Miami also has a bye week in between the second and third games of the slate the team will be without Tagovailoa.
He is first eligible to return for the Oct. 27 home game against the Arizona Cardinals, assuming Tagovailoa is also out of concussion protocol by then.
The Dolphins face uncertainty as to their starting quarterback against the Titans, as backup Skylar Thompson suffered a rib injury in Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks . He, Tim Boyle and Tyler Huntley are all possibilities to start against Tennessee.
Armstead, Fuller updates
As Tagovailoa goes through concussion protocol, left tackle Terron Armstead and cornerback Kendall Fuller joined him as Dolphins going through the same five steps to return to play this week.
“Both in the protocol. Good conversations with them (Tuesday), but no timelines on them,” McDaniel said. “Just day to day and just making sure they’re getting back to full health and assessing the plan after that.
“I couldn’t rule anybody out for anything, but I don’t have a scope either, just because it was so fresh and we’re just taking it day by day.”
Armstead was initially only diagnosed with an eye injury after he got poked Sunday, but McDaniel updated that he too was in concussion protocol after the game.
Kendall Lamm would presumably start at left tackle for Armstead if he can’t play.
Without Fuller, undrafted rookie Storm Duck becomes the third cornerback in nickel packages — with Jalen Ramsey and Kader Kohou — for the Dolphins. Duck momentarily went down with a shoulder injury against the Seahawks, causing Miami to look to Siran Neal for those snaps, but Duck returned to the game.
Beckham on track
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has at least one more game to sit out while on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
McDaniel’s update Tuesday seems to indicate he could be back once he is eligible from the four-week minimum absence.
“I’ve seen some good progress, and I’m optimistic for when his window opens up,” McDaniel said. “We will see how his body responds. I do know that there’s been some very intentional good work, in that he hasn’t had the setbacks that we’ve made sure to avoid.”
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