Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel announced that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will return to the starting lineup Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Tagovailoa cleared the league’s protocol after sustaining a concussion in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills and missing four subsequent games. He met with an independent neurological consultant following Thursday’s practice and was cleared to return to action, Schefter adds.
Miami’s QB also spoke with medical experts across the country as he navigated the NFL’s Return to Participation Protocol, and not a single doctor recommended that Tagovailoa retire from football. The 26-year-old has been diagnosed with three concussions in two years.
Tagovailoa spoke with specialists and his family before making the decision to continue playing despite his medical history.
“I love this game,” he said Monday, according to The Athletic’s Tashan Reed and Amos Morale III. “I love it to the death of me.”
The Dolphins have posted a 1-3 record with Tagovailoa sidelined over the last month. Skylar Thompson started in Week 3 but hurt his ribs, so Tyler Huntley started in Week 4, shortly after joining the team, and played the next three contests. Miami placed Huntley on injured reserve Friday after his missed practice this week with a right shoulder injury.
Tagovailoa has passed for 483 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions this season, completing 64.5% of his pass attempts. He led the NFL with 4,624 yards in 2023 to go along with 29 touchdowns, earning him his first career Pro Bowl nod.
