NFL Rumors: Tua Tagovailoa Not Advised by Doctors to Retire After Latest Concussion | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was not advised to retire by multiple neurologists after suffering his third concussion since 2022, according to ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques.

“A team source told ESPN that none of the neurologists Tagovailoa consulted recommended he retire, nor did they express concern that he was at greater risk for additional injury after giving his brain time to heal,” wrote Louis-Jacques Friday. “Tagovailoa said Monday that he never thought about retirement this time.”

The signal caller missed four games due to a concussion in Week 2, but he will start in the Dolphins’ game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday after clearing protocol.

Tagovailoa was previously diagnosed with a concussion twice during his 2022 campaign, including one in Week 16, which forced him to miss the remainder of the season in Miami.

Louis-Jacques noted that the Dolphins had not “explicitly” ruled him out for the remainder of the year at the time, but that they had never discussed a return timeline with the 26-year-old in order to keep his focus on resting rather than rapid progression through the protocol.

Tagovailoa told reporters on Monday that he had not had a single concussion since September 13, but Miami still placed him on injured reserve to allow his brain to heal.

“What I do know is that I think the team did what was best in my best interest,” Tagovailoa said, Louis-Jacques said. “Knowing that I am a competitor, and given what the doctors told me that it would have been good for me to have a significant amount of time to rest and recover, I think they did what was best to protect myself from myself. “

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport provided insight into the quarterback’s five-step return to action.

He should be able to excel against a Cardinals secondary that has allowed 236.9 passing yards per week this season, the seventh-worst brand in the NFL.

As the Pro Bowl quarterback nears his return to the field, it doesn’t appear retirement was a serious option as he went through concussion protocol.