Tua fallout prompts NFL to change protocol
The NFL’s concussion protocol was followed after Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered an injury against the Bills last month, the NFL and NFL Players Association concluded in a joint investigation.
The parties released a joint statement on their findings Saturday.
“The outcome in this case was not what was intended when the Protocol was drafted,” the statement said.
As a result, the NFL and NFLPA agreed to modify the league’s concussion protocol, adding the term “ataxia,” to the mandatory “no-go” symptoms. In the statement, they defined ataxia as “abnormality of balance/stability, motor coordination or dysfunctional speech caused by a neurological issue.”
If a player is diagnosed with ataxia by the team or other neutral physician, that player will immediately be ruled out of the game and will receive follow-up care.
In the first half of the Week 2 game on Sept. 25, Tagovailoa took a hit from Bills linebacker Matt Milano, which caused him to slam to the ground. He appeared disoriented afterward and stumbled as he tried to get to his feet.
The NFLPA announced that it was launching an investigation into the situation. The union later fired the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant who handled Tagovailoa’s injury during the game.
Jeff Miller, the NFL’s executive vice president overseeing health and safety, said in a virtual news conference that he believes this is the first time a UNC has been fired, and that the NFL did not support the decision to fire him.
† Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson reportedly played against the Colts, and three quarters of the previous game against the Raiders, with a partially torn lat near his right shoulder. Wilson suffered the injury in the second quarter of the loss to the Raiders.
† The Giants elevated quarterback Davis Webb from the practice squad to serve as a backup to Daniel Jones against the Packers in London.
† The Titans placed their firstround draft pick Treylon Burks on injured reserve with an injured left toe, ensuring the wide receiver won’t be back until mid-November at the earliest.
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† Patrick Cantlay came within one putt of a 59, instead matching his low score on the PGA Tour for a share of the lead with 20-yearold Tom Kim going into the final round of the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas.
† Bob Baffert is headed to the Breeders’ Cup in Kentucky next month with the likely favorite in the $2 million Juvenile after Cave Rock romped to his third consecutive victory, and second in a Grade 1 race, in winning the $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes by 5¼ lengths at Santa Anita in California.