How many concussions can one seriously take in a single season? Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins are once again making headlines for the wrong reasons as the team revealed the QB is back in concussion protocol…for the second time this season.
I fear we may never see the true talent that Tua Tagovailoa possesses at the NFL level.
For the third time this season, Tua Tagovailoa has suffered a substantial concussion as he was placed in the concussion protocol yesterday, despite playing the full game against Green Bay. Now, you don’t need me or a doctor to tell you that getting three concussions in less than three months is not only bad in a football player’s standard of health, but also potentially catastrophic in terms of overall health.
Just one concussion can permanently destroy a person’s life as it opens up the possibility that said person suffers from devastation neurological injuries, such as CTE, dementia, Parkinson’s disorder, aggressive mood swings, depression, etc., later on in life. Having three in less than three months, with one of them literally knocking Tua unconsciousness, will have an unforeseen impact on his life.
I really don’t know how the Dolphins have blundered another Tua concussion issue as they either must employ the world’s worst neurological doctors, or they really couldn’t care less about the safety of their star quarterback. Given how much pressure and spotlight the Dolphins’ medial staff has received in recent weeks, I can’t see the franchise being so blatantly aloof with their hiring.
Thus, I have to believe the latter option.
Nevertheless, I really think Tua should think about sitting out the rest of the season as if he suffers a fourth concussion in either the last regular season game (he’s definitely out for this week against NE) or in the playoffs, he could literally be brain dead by 40. And I’m not saying that in a flippant or crash way, but rather in a realistic one.
Suffering four concussions in one’s entire lifespan (range: 80-100 years) is enough trauma to the brain to cause one of the many neurological disorders I listed above earlier. Having four in a single season and still playing the sport that caused them is tantamount to self-sabotage.
I know Tua wants to play and loves the game of football, but if he doesn’t take care of himself and his brain, he won’t be able to live a normal life for however long he has left to live. Players even greater than Tua, such as former Panthers LB and perennially All-Pro and 2010’s All-Decades member Luke Kuechly, had to retire at 29 because of his numerous concussions. And was a potential hall of famer (and still probably will be) in the prime of his career.
Plus, it’s not like the concussions are the only medical issue plaguing the former Alabama quarterback as Tua had four separate injuries in last two seasons, along with hip surgery amongst other surgeries in his college career. Like it or not, Tua Tagovailoa is too small, and his body is too brittle to survive in the NFL.
And, I really hate to say it, but it’ll only be a matter of time before he is permanently forced out of the league from a bad injury if he doesn’t take matters into his own hands now.
