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TUA Tagovailoa is returning as the starting quarterback of the Miami Dolphins.
After suffering yet another scary concussion, Tagovailoa is going to return to the NFL.
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Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed on Monday that Tua will return from injured reserve after missing four games with a concussion.
McDaniel shared that the plan is for Tua to play on Sunday, but that is contingent on him passing the concussion protocols.
According to ESPN, Tua hasn’t shown symptoms of a concussion for weeks.
“Our plan is to start him practicing on Wednesday, and the clearing doesn’t come until after some of the activity,” McDaniel said.
“But we’re obviously doing so in the hope of everything going well so he can play Sunday, but that will be to be determined.”
The Dolphins likely didn’t have to put Tua on IR for his concussion, but the team made the decision to give him a lengthy amount of time to make an educated decision about his health.
After four weeks on the sidelines, he made the decision that he wanted to return to football.
Tua confirmed himself that he wouldn’t be retiring in a press conference on Monday, and shared his dedication to the game.
“I appreciate your concern. I really do,” he said.
“I love this game. And I love it to the death of me. That’s it.”
Tua also spoke about the risks he will face returning to football, but that he is willing to take them on.
“How much risk do we take when we get up in the morning and drive to work? You can get in a car accident,” he said.
“There is risk in any & everything. I’m willing to play odds.”
The Dolphins will certainly be happy that Tua is returning to the team, as they have been an entirely different offense without him.
Miami is dead last in points per game this year, only averaging 11.7 every weekend. Last season they were No. 3 in the league averaging 27.9.
NFL important dates
August 1 – Hall of Fame Game – Houston Texans vs Chicago Bears
August 8 – Pre-season begins
August 27 – Deadline for 53-man rosters
September 1 – Final day of pre-season
September 5 – Season opener – Baltimore Ravens vs Kansas City Chiefs
November 5 – Trade deadline
January 5 – Week 18 of regular-season
January 11 – Playoffs begin
February 9 – Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana
The team has also bounced back and forth between three different quarterbacks, trying Skylar Thompson, Tim Boyle, and Tyler Huntley.
This quarterback carousel has caused everybody in the offense to suffer. Tyreek Hill doesn’t even have 300 yards yet this season, and is on pace to finish with less than 1,000 yards.
Jaylen Waddle has also been nonexistent without a competent passing game, and is on pace for his first season without 1,000 yards.
The one upside is that the Dolphins defense is playing well, only allowing 21.5 points per game.
If Tua is still the same quarterback as he was before the injury, he should be able to get the Dolphins back on track.
Will it be enough for them to recover from a 2-4 record? Only time will tell.
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