Forbes
September 19, 2024
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered yet another concussion during their Week 2 loss to their division-rival, Buffalo Bills.
This represented the third traumatic brain injury that the former first-round pick from Alabama has suffered in less than past two years. It was back in 2022 that Tagovailoa suffered two concussions within a short period.
After suffering those two concussions, the NFL protocols were changed. It came following another incident in which Tagovailoa took a violent hit to the head.
“As we have discussed with the NFLPA, we agree that changes to the joint NFL-NFLPA protocols are necessary to further enhance player safety,” the league said in a statement at the time, via ESPN.
Questions since this latest scary incident have surrounded the viability of Tua remaining in the NFL. Some, including Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce, firmly believe that he should retire to preserve his post-football life and health.
As of right now, the Dolphins placed Tagovailoa on short-term injured reserve. This means that he’ll miss at least the next four games. However, the league’s concussion protocol coupled with analysis from doctors will dictate when/if Tagovailoa is able to return.
These protective additions to helmets were mandated for multiple positions during practice and preseason games back in 2022. This mandate was advanced to include offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers, defensive backs, tight ends, running backs and wide receivers. Quarterbacks were not included as they are in non-contact jerseys during practice.
Could Tua Tagovailoa Have Avoided A Concussion By Wearing A Guardian Cap?
As for expanding to regular-season action, NFL Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills explained the decision this past spring.
“We’ve got two years of data now showing significant concussion reductions in those players that wear Guardian Caps in the NFL,” Sills said in April. “We might actually see a Guardian Cap on a player in a game this year.”
It was back in October of 2023 that Sills indicated the NFL had a seven-year low in training camp concussions. The league’s top medical professional pointed primarily at the use of Guardian Caps.
Despite this, less than two handfuls of players have opted to wear the Guardian Cap through the first two weeks of the season.
One such player is Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
“We’ll see. It was good for me. I’m sure that we’ll have other guys continue to try it as the year goes on, and whether it looks cool or not, I think it looks better with our helmet than it does with the other helmets,” Owusu-Koramoah said.
As for whether Tua would have avoided a concussion, it’s absolutely impossible to say one way or another. Would it have limited his exposure? Based on the data mentioned above, that seems to be likely.
Tua Tagovailoa Injury Could Lead To Trend Of NFL Players Wearing Guardian Cap
We’ll have to wait and see as it relates to Tua potentially returning this season. As the Dolphins’ brass has noted since he suffered the concussion a week ago Thursday, it’s about a lot more than football.
“I think it’s utmost priority of mine for Tua to speak to his career,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters this week. “I think reports are reports. I think as far as I’m concerned I’m just worried about the human being. I think I’ll let Tua be the champion of his own career and speak on that.”
What we do know is that others around football have taken note after Tua’s scary injury against Buffalo.
“That’s it. NFL go ahead and do the right thing. Tua has had entirely way too many concussions. He need(s) to retire for his longevity health concerns,” former NFL star Dez Bryant wrote on X.
Media personality and Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe agreed with this sentiment.
We’re naturally going to see an uptick in the use of Guardian Caps following Tua’s injury. Other players will look at his career being in jeopardy and want to protect themselves from that same fate.
“We play a dangerous game, man,” Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle told reporters recently. “I think that the whole world gets to see how dangerous this game is, and how everybody puts their body on the line week in and week out.”
It’s not just about longevity on the football field. It’s about a lot more than that. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) has long been a part of the NFL’s lexicon.
The progressive degenerative disease has long been linked to repeated head trauma, including concussions. In fact, the NFL settled out of court in a class-action suit with former players. A Forbes’ contributor reported earlier in 2024 that the NFL has paid out $1.2 billion to more than 1,600 former NFL players and their families since the settlement back in 2015.
These are the finances of it. But the mental health and physical well-being of players should take precedence over everything else.
The league likely won’t mandate the use of Guardian Caps during regular-season games. That doesn’t mean we won’t see more players opt to use them. Tagovailoa’s latest injury adds another element to this.