Here’s the most recent installment of our Miami Dolphins Q&A, the place South Florida Sun Sentinel writers David Furones and Chris Perkins reply questions from readers.
Q: Two concussions in a single yr and I believe third. As household oriented Tua is any ideas he will get apprehensive and retires early? Especially with all these tales about a number of concussions long run results. — @finsluva on Twitter
Q: If he retired in like 2-3 years, how shocked would you be? — @Steve_Ronda on Twitter
A: Let’s begin with what we all know, as much as this minute early Tuesday afternoon: Tua Tagovailoa is within the NFL’s concussion protocol for the second time this season and took a 3rd blow to the top in the identical actual manner together with his helmet bouncing off the turf after getting taken down.
We nonetheless don’t know if he has been identified with a concussion from the most recent hit, as gamers can enter league protocols with out really struggling a concussion. He confirmed signs on Monday, and that’s when the staff recognized he ought to enter protocol after he completed Sunday’s recreation towards the Green Bay Packers.
There’s additionally the query of his first blow to the top within the 2022 season, within the Sept. 25 win over the Buffalo Bills when he was cleared to return, completed that recreation and performed 4 days later in Cincinnati, when he suffered a severe concussion and was hospitalized from it. So we nonetheless are uncertain if he has had one, two or three concussions this season — or few folks have that information.
Could Tagovailoa take into account retirement?
If this certainly is one other concussion and the medical info offers him any kind of indication that his long-term well being is in severe hazard with one other hit to the top, it’s one thing he no less than has to ponder. And if not this one, then what number of extra earlier than he does come round to the concept?
There are lots of people opining on what he ought to do, however finally, it’s his choice to make.
Family is necessary to Tagovailoa, so I’m positive, particularly bringing a son into the world this yr together with his spouse, he desires to seek out longevity in life past soccer and be wholesome in his later years.
At the identical time, he’s a competitor. In the Buffalo recreation when he took the primary hit, all he was desirous about was getting again into the sport to assist his staff. He labored onerous to return after lacking two video games from the concussion that noticed him immobile on the sector and being taken off on a stretcher in Cincinnati.
Unless there’s some resounding medical proof that this newest concussion scare was a false alarm, I might shut him down for the remainder of the season if I had been the Dolphins.
And that is now one thing that has to constantly be a priority in years going ahead for nonetheless lengthy he performs. Any hit to the top, you’re desirous about his concussion historical past and the way that impacts his restoration. That is an element that’s thought-about within the NFL’s five-step protocol to return to play.
Q: Why not Skylar as a substitute of Bridgewater for the subsequent two video games . What does #Dolphins must lose that they haven’t misplaced already? — Luis Hernandez on Twitter
A: I wouldn’t throw a seventh-round rookie in Skylar Thompson into this situation, having to maintain a staff’s playoff hopes alive coming off a four-game dropping streak at New England and coach Bill Belichick.
This is the place you need your skilled veteran backup in Teddy Bridgewater to take management within the occasion Tagovailoa can’t play. This is why you pursued a participant with 63 profession begins coming into this yr within the offseason, particularly figuring out Tagovailoa is injury-prone.
Besides, of their restricted taking part in time this yr, Bridgewater has been higher: 61.7 completion proportion, 8.7 yards per try, three touchdowns, three interceptions; Thompson has a 52.8 completion proportion. 5.2 yards per try, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Plus, Bridgewater has proven some first rate rapport with Tyreek Hill when he’s been in, and two of tight finish Mike Gesicki’s 4 touchdowns this season have been thrown by Bridgewater.
Q: Been listening to Joe Rose present this morning and it appears like they’re broke for subsequent yr? Is that correct and what number of pics formally they’ve for the draft? — @sanecane on Twitter
A: The Dolphins are at the moment projected to be over the NFL wage cap for 2023, in response to Spotrac. But these figures can all the time be manipulated with cuts, restructured contracts and different transactions. Miami additionally has to settle the Byron Jones scenario, which might swing their cap house.
Here’s Miami’s present 2023 draft picks: Its personal second-round decide, its personal third, the Patriots’ third (DeVante Parker commerce), a sixth-round decide and a seventh-rounder.
Miami’s personal 2023 first-round choice was forfeited as a result of staff’s tampering violations. Its first-rounder from the 49ers was despatched to the Denver Broncos for Bradley Chubb. The Dolphins additionally despatched fourth- and sixth-round picks to Kansas City within the Hill commerce. Their fifth-round choice was shipped to San Francisco for operating again Jeff Wilson. They had two sixth-rounders with one coming from Chicago within the 2021 Jakeem Grant commerce.
Q: Why does the media assume McDaniel has completed such an incredible job when he’s added a bunch of expertise to the roster and the staff is correct the place they had been final yr? — @RonnieBarnhardt on Twitter
A: I believe there’s a distinction between the media having fun with interactions with coach Mike McDaniel and considering he “has done such a great job.” I imagine most media members maintain him accountable for the staff‘s shortcomings during the four-game losing streak. It’s inexcusable for a staff that was 8-3 a month in the past to not no less than cut up its December slate.
Now, the Dolphins are preventing for his or her playoff lives over the ultimate two weeks, and whether or not McDaniel’s first season as head coach — with a greater roster than Brian Flores had final yr — is a hit shall be decided by whether or not this staff will get into the playoffs.
Have a query?
Email David Furones, or tag @ChrisPerk or @DavidFurones_ on Twitter.
Previously answered:
Is Bradley Chubb contributing?
Why is the run recreation absent?
How impactful can defensive entrance be?
Are Miami assistants in line for head teaching jobs at season’s finish?
How will protection fare on West Coast journey?
Can struggling protection be mounted? Plus, Emmanuel Ogbah, Jason Sanders questions
Should Mike Gesicki have been shopped in commerce talks? Why so many penalties?
Is 8-3 with a 5-game win streak in Miami’s future? Does Brandon Shell maintain on to RT job?
Why not use Mike Gesicki as WR?
Why has protection taken a step again? Liam Eichenberg issues? Talk trades with Panthers?
Should we be bought on this O-line; what’s up with Mike Gesicki?
Is Christian Wilkins subsequent for multi-year extension?
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com