NFL-NFLPA conclude Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion suffered on Christmas was dealt with correctly

Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa is amongst what’s believed to be a single-digit variety of gamers who’ve suffered a number of concussions on this NFL season, in response to sources.

He suffered his second confirmed concussion of the season — and third regarding blow to the top — on Christmas in opposition to the Packers. He wasn’t checked for a concussion throughout the recreation and solely met with the medical doctors after displaying concussion-like signs the next day. The joint overview between the NFL and NFL Gamers Affiliation into the dealing with of Tagovailoa’s concussion revealed that “signs of a concussion have been neither exhibited nor reported till the next day,” that means there was no motive for the protocol to set off.

It’s unclear if and when Tagovailoa might be in a position or cleared to return to play. The Dolphins dominated him out for Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Patriots as they battle for a wild card berth.

The concussion protocol for return to play is similar no matter what number of concussions the participant has suffered. However a league supply famous there’s at all times “wealthy and sturdy” dialogue round gamers with multiple concussion and their return to play.

The union believes participant historical past could possibly be thought-about a larger issue within the analysis of a participant with a number of concussions like Tagovailoa.

Nobody has publicly confirmed when Tagovailoa suffered the second concussion, however video from the second quarter of the Packers recreation reveals the again of Tagovailoa’s head hitting the turf. Concussion spotters are skilled to search for a blow to the top adopted by some form of harm habits — a wobble, greedy on the helmet or facemask or ataxia.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel indicated he observed a distinction in Tagovailoa when watching the tape on Monday. When he met with Tagovailoa that day, McDaniel had Tagovailoa meet with the medical doctors the place he was then positioned within the concussion protocol.

The overview decided that no harm habits came about instantly after the blow to the top. Introducing a coverage within the protocol to have each participant who hits his head checked for a concussion isn’t tenable for the best way the sport is performed, in response to a number of sources.

There are 5 spotters within the sales space: two spotters, an unaffiliated neurotrauma guide (or impartial physician) and two video techs. Would including one other particular person or two assist in catching extra head accidents?

“All the pieces’s on the desk,” mentioned one supply.

All three blows to the top this season for Tagovailoa have been suffered within the occipital space of the top. NFL analysis has proven that’s the place quarterbacks recurrently suffered concussions on account of how they fall in an unprotected method primarily based off the best way the place is performed.

The league has spent tens of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} on growing safer helmet expertise, and it continues to take a look at position-specific helmets. The league launched the TRENCH helmet for offensive linemen, which gives extra padding to the entrance of the helmet the place concussions largely happen for these gamers.

There’s lively work ongoing for a quarterback-specific helmet that would come with engineered padding at the back of the helmet, and there’s perception throughout the league that the quarterback-specific helmet might be prepared throughout the subsequent yr.