Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is still in concussion protocol and will not play in next week’s Pro Bowl, a source told ESPN, friday.
Tagovailoa had been named the first Pro Bowl alternate and he was expected to replace either Joe Burrow or Patrick Mahomes. With both quarterbacks playing in Sunday’s AFC Finals game, one will play in Super Bowl LVII. However, Tagovailoa went into protocol on Dec. 26 after suffering a concussion in Miami’s loss to the Green Bay Packers the previous day. He then missed the team’s final three games of the season, including a first-round playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills.
According to the source, Tagovailoa’s time in the protocol is voluntary, as he met with several doctors and specialists. There were no negative developments in his case. The Dolphins only want to prioritize his long-term health.
The third-year quarterback set career highs in passing yards and touchdowns this season while leading the NFL in quarterback efficiency ratings.
Tagovailoa missed most of six games after suffering concussions in weeks 4 and 16. The NFL and the Players Association have launched two joint reviews into how his head injuries were handled this season. The first resulted in the firing of a neurological consultant unaffiliated with the Dolphins who cleared Tagovailoa to play after hitting his head in Week 3 and tripping shortly after.
The NFL amended its concussion protocol as a result of this joint review.
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said earlier this month that the Dolphins will start the 2023 season with Tagovailoa as their starting quarterback and that doctors the team has spoken to don’t believe the concussions in the quarterback will make him more susceptible to head injuries in the future.
