Tua Tagovailoa is back, and he's trying not to think about his next injury
Tua Tagovailo is back. And with each passing injury, his return to the sport that hurt him will be a little more awkward.
The Dolphins quarterback was borderline hostile when he met with reporters on Monday. Tua insists he has been symptom-free since the day after his latest injury — although a brain injury on Thursday, Sept. 12 forced him to miss four games on injured reserve.
After speaking with Devin McCourty about the situation on Tuesday PFT is liveTwo things happened to me. One, Tua doesn't want his opponents to think he's thinking about his next hit. Two, Tua doesn't want to think about her next injury.
With at least three (probably at least four) in less than two years, does anyone think he won't have another one? And if/when it happens, then what? Miss a month and it's all over again?
Like every NFL player, Toure has the absolute right to assume concussion risk. The question is whether there is a point at which this is too much concussion. Even if he recovers from each one (the next day, as he claims), this lather, rinse, repeat process doesn't seem sustainable.
This leads to a broader question of whether the NFL and the NFL Players Association should create a standard to force a player to retire after a certain number of concussions (hopefully with financial compensation).
How many concussions are there? This is for the league and union to decide. Regardless, there should be a limit to the number of concussions any one player can sustain.
Regardless, it's a bigger deal than a sprained ankle or pulled hamstring. They heal, they happen again, they heal, they happen again. The brain is a different situation.
Twice, Tua experienced a reaction to the fence after a hit. It usually results from a significant brain injury.
What if it happens again? It would be wise for leagues, teams and players to have a plan for when it happens again — because chances are it will.