Tua Tagovailoa concussion update is predictably terrible

Tua Tagovailoa won’t participate in the Pro Bowl because he remains in concussion protocol more than a month after his last game.

The status of Tua Tagovailoa, even weeks after the Dolphins’ season ended, isn’t particularly encouraging.

As of conference championship weekend, Tagovailoa is still in concussion protocol and the expectation isn’t for him to get out soon either, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN reported on Friday.

Tagovailoa will not participate in the Pro Bowl next weekend, according to that report. He was named an alternate for either Joe Burrow or Patrick Mahomes as the winning quarterback of the AFC Championship Game will be preparing for the Super Bowl. The NFL will need an alternate for Tagovailoa as well because his concussion saga has dragged on.

Tua Tagovailoa concussion update: Dolphins QB to skip Pro Bowl

Critically, Louis-Jacques cited a source who said Tagovailoa hasn’t had any setbacks. Instead, the Dolphins are being “deliberate” with his recovery while “prioritiz[ing] his long-term health.”

It’s about time they did that.

The team was criticized for their handling of Tagovailoa and his brain health on multiple occasions in 2022.

Officially, the Dolphins QB suffered two concussions during the season, one in Week 4 and another in Week 16. However, he stumbled after a blow to the head in Week 3 against the Bills and was allowed to continue playing in that game despite showing signs of a neurological issue.

The following Thursday he was cleared to play against the Bengals, which is when things got really scary. His head hit the ground hard during a sack and he had to be stretchered off the field after displaying the fencing response.

Tagovailoa missed games against the Jets and Vikings before returning to action in Week 7. He played through Christmas Day when he suffered another concussion and missed three more games to end the season, including Miami’s frustratingly narrow playoff loss to the Bills. He’s been in concussion protocol ever since.

Getting Tagovailoa fully healthy has to be the priority.