Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa took a big hit against the Cincinnati Bengals and had to be stretchered off the field.
The entire NFL world is sending positive thoughts towards Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins after the quarterback had to be stretchered off against the Bengals.
Tagovailoa took a big hit in the second quarter and stayed down for a long time.
The medical team had to stretcher the quarterback off the field while both teams and fans in Cincinnati looked on in concern.
UPDATE 11:24 p.m. ET: Tagovailoa is expected to be released from the hospital and fly back to Miami with the Dolphins.
Dolphins tell Amazon sideline reporter @KayleeHartung that they expect Tua Tagovailoa to be discharged from the hospital tonight and travel back to Miami with the team after that.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) September 30, 2022
Tua Tagovailoa injured: Taken to hospital after big hit
Scary moment in Cincinnati: Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa went down hard.
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 30, 2022
Prayers up for Tua 🙏 pic.twitter.com/NyOLQwPsiA
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) September 30, 2022
A medical expert told @PrimeVideo that Tua's fingers locking up the way they did is a "neurological response to head trauma."
— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) September 30, 2022
Good lord.
What a scary deal. https://t.co/SGVwF82KpP
Tagovailoa appeared to have the “fencing response” which is a neurological response to a concussion that can be seen in the hands or arms stiffening or contorting. However, it has yet to be confirmed if that is what he suffered. The nature or extent of his injury is unknown beyond the fact that it required a stretcher.
He was taken away in an ambulance immediately to a local trauma center.
Tua Tagovailoa has been taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. He is conscious and has movement in all his extremities.
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) September 30, 2022
Fortunately, the team tweeted an update everyone was waiting for: Tagovailoa is conscious and he has movement in his extremities.
There was particular concern over Tagovailoa because of what happened last week. He hit his head hard on the ground after a hit and stumbled when he got back to his feet. While observers guessed he suffered a concussion, the team cleared him to return and claimed he had that reaction because of a back injury.
The NFLPA pushed to open an investigation of the team’s handling of the injury. Because the team designated his issue as a back injury he did not have to clear the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Eyes were already going to be keying in on the Dolphins. Now there will be extra scrutiny because of the apparent seriousness of the injury against the Bengals.