MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — On Monday, during a game against the Los Angeles Rams, Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa dropped back to pass and aimed the ball toward wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. Before Waddle could make the catch, Rams linebacker Christian Rozeboom intercepted the pass and sprinted upfield, with Tagovailoa and the Dolphins in pursuit.
What happened next left many viewers stunned.
Tagovailoa, who has a history of concussions in his career, lowered his body and made a headfirst tackle attempt on Rozeboom. As the linebacker continued his run, part of Rozeboom’s leg collided with Tagovailoa’s head.
“It didn’t feel as bad as it might have looked,” Tagovailoa said on Wednesday. “You’re out there playing football. I didn’t really feel the hit. I wasn’t just going to let him run down the sideline and potentially score. You have to make decisions, and I shouldn’t have thrown the interception in the first place.”
Despite the concern from observers, Tagovailoa said he wouldn’t do anything differently after reviewing the play, although head coach Mike McDaniel mentioned that the quarterback recognized his vulnerability when watching the film.
“When you’re carrying the ball and trying to protect yourself, you’re also aware that you’re being physical, and you’re trying to run someone over,” McDaniel said. “Tua has a strong understanding of the consequences if he’s reckless with the ball. When he watched it on film, I think his reaction was different than what he thought was happening at full speed.”
Although Tagovailoa remained in the game after the hit, the play quickly gained attention on social media, particularly due to his past history with head injuries. This was Tagovailoa’s third game back after being placed on injured reserve for a concussion — his third diagnosed concussion in less than two years.
Tagovailoa’s latest injury came on September 12, after he collided with Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin. Instead of sliding, Tagovailoa chose to lower his shoulder and initiate contact with Hamlin, which led to conversations with his teammates about taking better care of himself moving forward.
“We’ve been talking to him ever since his injury,” said running back Raheem Mostert. “I’ve told him, ‘You need to work on sliding.’ We joke about it, but seriously, he knows he has to protect himself better.”
In 2022, Tagovailoa was diagnosed with two concussions and also endured a significant head injury that prompted the NFL to modify its concussion protocols. While he has expressed that he doesn’t want to be the face of traumatic brain injuries in the NFL, he understands that his situation has ignited much-needed conversation about player safety.
McDaniel said Wednesday that he has had several talks with Tagovailoa about his injuries and how the recent concussion has impacted him.
“Tua has talked to me at length about how eye-opening it was to be out this season and see the effect it had on the organization,” McDaniel explained. “He doesn’t take that lightly.”
McDaniel emphasized that he doesn’t believe Tagovailoa was being reckless with his body, but rather that he thought he was protecting himself in the moment. “I expect him to make adjustments, as he always has, not just for his protection, but in how he plays the game.”
For his part, Tagovailoa acknowledged the challenge of balancing self-protection with instinct during a fast-paced game.
“When you’ve played football for so long, you instinctively revert to what you know,” he said. “It’s all about finding that balance. You can’t focus on too many things at once when you’re playing the game — it’s too fast and too intense.”
In other news, the Dolphins claimed tight end Jack Stoll off waivers from the Philadelphia Eagles and waived linebacker David Long Jr. Long, who started the season as a team captain, struggled in pass coverage and was eventually benched. Over the past two games, Long has only played special teams.