In the Miami Dolphins' 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football, a concerning moment unfolded when Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa attempted a scramble run up the middle with 4:36 left in the third quarter.
As he gained six yards, he was tackled by Bills safety Damar Hamlin, the player who nearly lost his life on the field last season due to a cardiac arrest in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Tagovailoa’s head and neck were awkwardly positioned during the tackle, leading to fears about the severity of the impact.
Hamlin’s tackle was entirely within the rules, but it illustrated the unpredictable dangers of football. The sport has a brutal reality—one play can change everything.
In this case, the Dolphins' quarterback was once again thrust into the spotlight for his health rather than his performance.
After the tackle, Tagovailoa was swiftly diagnosed with a concussion, marking another chapter in his ongoing battle with head trauma.
For Tagovailoa, this incident was a chilling reminder of the mishandling of his injuries during the 2022 season. In Week 3 of that season, Tagovailoa had been slammed to the ground, causing his head to hit the turf forcefully.
Despite appearing visibly shaken, the Dolphins allowed him to return to the field after a brief evaluation. Just days later, in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, he suffered another brutal hit.
That time, he exhibited a fencing response, a neurological reaction that suggests significant brain trauma. The disturbing scene led to widespread criticism of both the Dolphins' medical staff and the NFL’s concussion protocols.