Tua Tagovailoa shares the frightening details of his concussion

Miami Dolphins star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered two scary medical episodes earlier in the season, and he’s broken his silence on it.

Miami Dolphins star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered two scary medical episodes in back-to-back games earlier this season, and he’s broken his silence on it. Many were concerned about his health and safety, and he’s offered his own scary experience of the situation.

According to Brian Wacker of the New York Post, Tagovailoa shared, “There was a point I was unconscious. I remember the entire night up until the point I got tackled. I don’t remember being carted off. I do remember some things from the ambulance and the hospital.”

This statement was in regard to the latter Week 4 incident where Tagovailoa was sacked and fell to the ground unconscious with involuntary flexing of his arms and fingers.

It’s unclear whether or not the Week 4 incident was related to the Week 3 one where he was tackled and remained conscious but stumbled while running off the field, looking completely dazed. He was taken out momentarily but returned before the game ended, and the doctor that handled him was fired.

The NFL has also been pushed to change its concussion protocol because of Tagovailoa’s situation.

The NFL was pushed to change its concussion protocol because of Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa’s situation

Football is a huge contact sport, so concussions are a pretty common occurrence and the NFL is often under scrutiny for it. Tagovailoa being carted off the field was enough for the league and its players union to open an investigation, and it led the league to change the policy.

According to Becky Sullivan of NPR, “The revision concerns ataxia, the medical term for the poor muscle control associated with concussions that can appear as unsteadiness or slurred speech. Going forward, any player who is diagnosed with ataxia will not be allowed to return to the game. Previously, players could return if there was another explanation for a moment of instability, like how Tagovailoa’s stumble was attributed to the back injury.”

Von Miller also advocated for change in the protocol, stating, “Football is a dangerous sport, and I’m all about making the game as safe as I possibly can.”

This is a huge step forward in protecting players. Concussions are extremely dangerous and can cause irreversible damage. Luckily, Tagovailoa seems to be in full health again.