Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa long-term mental health was first called into question in 2022 when he was carried off the field on a stretcher after a collision with the ground. It was certainly a scary sight, especially after Tagovailoa had an unnatural hand movement caused by the collision. His second concussion came on Christmas Day against the Green Bay Packers: these two injuries and their proximity put his future into question.

He didn’t suffer another head injury until the start of the year, after a scary collision with Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. He would be placed on injured reserve, with many fans suggesting he should retire. Tagovailoa refused and even refused to wear a goalie cap for added protection. He returned against the Arizona Cardinals.

Monday night, against the Los Angeles Rams, he threw a pick and while trying to make a tackle, Tagavailoa took a leg to the head. The sight would be enough for a normal person to say “Not yet”. But Tagovailoa said after the match“No, I didn’t feel any of that. But it was pretty bad tackling form. It was pretty terrible.

McDaniels can breathe a sigh of reliefbut he had this to add:

“I think the best way to do that is to not throw it at the opponent. These are the times when I feel the growth of the three years the most. When something doesn’t go well, he gets so angry with himself and sets high standards for himself, but he also recognizes that he is the franchise quarterback of this team. So you can’t go too far in your own hair removal. You have to lead and you have to pass things good or bad. I think he did a really good job of taking those L’s, so to speak, and not letting that affect his game as he progressed and moved forward in the match. I was very happy with it.”

McDaniel clearly dodged the question in this case, perhaps wrongly. Yes, not throwing the interception would prevent Tagovailoa from having to make a tackle. But this is the NFL and picks are going to be thrown around. So to say that this is the solution leaves a lot to be desired.

The Dolphin has lost three of four in Tagovailoa’s absence. The Dolphins and Tagovailoa must figure out how protect him before losing him for more than the injured reserve minimum.