The NFL has distanced itself from Tua Tagovailoa, announcing that it will not be involved in the decision regarding the Dolphins quarterback’s potential return.
Tua suffered another concussion last month, the third official one of his career. Should he return, it will not be before the Fins play the Cardinals on October 27, given that he was placed on the injured reserve on September 17.
Miami used the IR to give them enough time to go through the league’s concussion protocol and consult outside neurologists. The NFL will not interfere in the decision, having announced as much this Friday while disclosing that there has been a record-low number of concussions around the league this year.
“Patient autonomy and medical decision-making really matters,” the NFL’s chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills, said, per ESPN. “And I think that’s what we have to recognize goes on with our concussion protocol as well.
“Ultimately when patients make decisions without considering their careers, it has to reflect that autonomy that’s generated from discussions with medical experts giving them best medical advice.”
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The NFL Can’t Determine Risk Of Re-Injury For Tua Tagovailoa Or Anyone Else
The neurosurgeon went on to state that there is no “detailed formula” for predicting concussions for Tua Tagovailoa or anyone else, while medical professionals can only make their “best guess” on future risk.
“So what we end up having to do is look at the totality of the patient’s experience, how many concussions, the interval between those concussions, some about duration of symptoms after each concussion, and then very much the patient’s voice about where they are in their journey, their career, their age and things of that nature.
“And from that, we try as medical professionals to provide our best guess. But that’s really what it is, is a guess at what is someone’s future risk of concussion.”
Tua is expected to return to playing as soon as his mandatory four-game absence is over.
