Tua Tagovailoa Suffers Third Concussion in Dolphins' Loss to Bills

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa lies on the field after suffering a concussion during the second half of Thursday's gamePhoto byAP Photo/Lynne Sladky

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has sustained his third diagnosed concussion in his NFL career during Thursday night’s game against the Buffalo Bills. The injury occurred after a collision with Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin, where Tagovailoa hit the back of his head on the turf.

The alarming moment unfolded in the third quarter, as Tagovailoa remained down for nearly two minutes before slowly getting to his feet and heading to the sidelines. Shortly after, he walked toward the tunnel, briefly acknowledging fans with a smile before heading to the locker room. The Dolphins wasted no time confirming it was a concussion, marking the third such injury in his career. Tagovailoa had already suffered two concussions during the 2022 season and had one earlier in his college days at Alabama.

Tagovailoa, who signed a four-year, $212 million contract extension ahead of the season, entered Week 1 as the NFL’s leading passer and had led the Dolphins to the playoffs last season. However, his team was trailing 31-10 at the time of his injury, and that score held until the end of the game. His return this season remains uncertain.

The incident occurred during a fourth-down play with about 4:30 left in the third quarter. Instead of sliding, Tagovailoa led with his right shoulder and collided with Hamlin, ending up on his back with both hands raised — a movement commonly associated with the "fencing response" seen after traumatic brain injuries. Dolphins center Aaron Brewer and several Bills players immediately signaled for medical attention.

As Tagovailoa left the field, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel shared a brief but emotional moment with his quarterback, gently holding his head and offering a kiss on the cheek. Skylar Thompson stepped in to replace Tagovailoa for the remainder of the game.

Hamlin, the player involved in the collision, made headlines earlier in 2023 when he suffered a cardiac arrest during a game against the Bengals, prompting the suspension of that game and a national outpouring of concern.

Tagovailoa’s history with concussions has been a major point of discussion throughout his career. During the 2022 season, he sustained two concussions, including one in a game against Buffalo, where despite appearing disoriented, he was cleared to return. This led the NFL to update its concussion protocols, requiring any player showing signs of instability or imbalance to be sidelined for the rest of the game.

Just days after that Buffalo incident, Tagovailoa suffered another concussion in a game against Cincinnati, where he was briefly knocked unconscious and had to be stretchered off the field. His season ended after a second concussion in a December matchup with Green Bay. In response, Tagovailoa has since turned to learning techniques such as jiu-jitsu to protect himself and reduce the risk of further injury.

As the Dolphins assess Tagovailoa’s condition, questions loom about his future in the league and whether he will be able to return to play this season.