Tua clears concussion protocol 37 days later

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has cleared the concussion protocol, according to a league source Wednesday.

Tagovailoa went through more than a month-long process to clear the NFL protocol to return to play from a concussion after first being diagnosed with his second concussion in the 2022 season on Dec. 26, the day after the Dolphins’ Christmas Day loss to the Green Bay Packers at Hard Rock Stadium.

The time away cost him starts in Miami’s final two regular-season games and the team’s wild-card playoff round loss at the Buffalo Bills on Jan. 15. The third-year player also could not participate in this weekend’s Pro Bowl as a top alternate among AFC quarterbacks as he continued to recover.

While Tagovailoa no longer has a game this season to return to, he is clear to return to action when the Dolphins begin their offseason workout program in April, as well as training camp ahead of the 2023 season in late July.

The source did not confirm the exact date of Tagovailoa’s clearance, but news, first reported by NFL Network, became known Wednesday, 37 days after Tagovailoa initially became unavailable for his concussion recovery.

In that Dec. 25 loss to the Packers, Tagovailoa banged his head against the turf as he was taken down while making a throw late in the first half. He was not identified to show any symptoms and finished the game, but he threw three fourth-quarter interceptions in Miami’s 26-20 loss.

Tagovailoa’s first diagnosed concussion occurred in a Sept. 29 loss at the Cincinnati Bengals, where he was taken off the field in a stretcher in the second quarter and admitted to University of Cincinnati medical facilities. He missed the Dolphins’ two ensuing games before returning Oct. 23 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Four days before that Thursday night incident against the Bengals, Tagovailoa similarly hit his head against the turf after getting pushed down in a Sept. 25 win over the Bills at home. He was cleared to return for the second half of that game after heading into the locker room late in the first half.

The Dolphins affirmed a commitment to having Tagovailoa as their starting quarterback in 2023, the final year on his rookie contract. They also have a May 1 deadline to exercise the fifth-year option on his contract to lock in Tagovailoa for 2024 at a figure of more than $22 million.