McDaniel updates status of Tagovailoa and Bridgewater and Dolphins injuries
With the team’s top two quarterbacks still in concussion protocol, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel indicated Monday that it isn’t clear when Tua Tagovailoa will return to game action and said he’s not yet ready to partake in football activities.
There is optimism that Teddy Bridgewater can clear concussion protocol and be available to play at home on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, but that’s not definite.
Tagovailoa remains in concussion protocol after sustaining a concussion Sept. 29 against Cincinnati.
Asked if Tagovailoa has been ruled out for Sunday’s Vikings game, McDaniel said: “I’m not thinking about his timeline. We’re trying to get him as healthy as possible. He’s doing well. He’s here today. He is not ready to take the step to do football stuff yet.”
“Football stuff” is phase 3 of the five steps required by the league to exit concussion protocol.
Tagovailoa is being evaluated “every 12 to 24 hours,” McDaniel said.
As for Bridgewater, he must still clear concussion protocol even though he didn’t have a concussion on Sunday. At the very least, he cannot practice on Wednesday because protocol cannot be cleared that quickly.
“In a perfect world with absolutely no setbacks, the soonest you can be on the field in a limited capacity, non contact, would be Thursday,” McDaniel said.
Bridgewater was placed in concussion protocol - and forced to leave Sunday’s game against the Jets after just one offensive play - because an upstairs spotter appointed by the league determined that he displayed signs of ataxia.
That NFL rule requiring a player to leave a game - if a spotter notices ataxia - was implemented on Saturday in the wake of the union’s and league’s investigation into why Tagovailoa was not removed after taking a big hit and stumbling in the Bills game.
Ataxia is defined as abnormality of balance/stability, motor coordination or dysfunctional speech caused by a neurological issue.
Under the new rule, Bridgewater must clear the five phases of concussion protocol before he plays again, even though he didn’t have a concussion. Here are those five phases.
The upstairs spotter said Bridgewater stumbled after a hit from Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner, which caused Bridgewater’s head to hit the turf on the Dolphins’ first offensive play.
There was no evidence of Bridgewater stumbling in video from WSVN-Fox 7, which followed Bridgewater from the field up until the point that he walked into the tunnel. He also sustained an elbow injury on the play.
Asked if he has seen any video of Bridgewater stumbling, McDaniel said: “I didn’t see him stumble. But I’m not really in the business of grading and coaching spotters. The rules are in place for players’ safety and I’m all about that.
“Whether he stumbled or not, the rules are the rules. Teddy was very prepared to play that game. My heart hurt that he was unable to execute something he was prepared for.”
McDaniel said the team won’t send any video to the league challenging whether Bridgewater really stumbled or should have been removed and placed in protocol. McDaniel said it would “feel irresponsible” to question the spotter’s decision.
Rookie Skylar Thompson- who played nearly all of Sunday’s 40-17 loss to the Jets - would start Sunday if Bridgewater surprisingly doesn’t clear protocol - and if Tagovailoa isn’t ready.
If Bridgewater clears protocol but doesn’t practice all week, McDaniel certainly could opt to start him over Thompson, though he didn’t commit to that on Monday.
None of the four Dolphins players who spoke to reporters on Monday expressed skepticism about Bridgewater being ruled out by the spotter.
“The league is taking great consideration into our health past football,” safety Jevon Holland said. “They’re taking steps to make sure we live normal lives down the line.”
McDaniel addressed other issues during his Monday press briefing:
▪ Left tackle Terron Armstead, who has been limited by a nagging toe injury for weeks, returned from visiting a New York foot specialist. Armstead departed after eight snaps on Sunday because of the injury.
“I can trust him as much as I can trust any player,” McDaniel said. “He will do whatever it takes for him to play Sunday. If he’s not able to play, it’s because he’s physically unable to play. I’m excited he’s taken a step to get that thing healthy.”
Austin Jackson (ankle) is eligible to come off injured reserve and will practice on a limited basis this week, McDaniel said.
▪ Cornerback Byron Jones - who had surgery in his Achilles/ankle injury in March - is still not ready to practice this week, per McDaniel.
He’s eligible to come off the physically unable to perform list at any time. The team can have him practice up to 21 days before deciding whether to move him to the 53-man roster. That 21-day period won’t be triggered until he practices.
Cornerback Xavien Howard, who missed Sunday’s game with a groin injury, is progressing and aiming to play Sunday.
“We are happy where he was at today,” McDaniel said. “We will see if he’s ready to go” Sunday.
▪ Tight end Durham Smythe (hamstring) also is working through an injury.
ROSTER MOVES
The Dolphins released defensive end Big Kat Bryant and cornerback Chris Steele from the practice squad and signed cornerback Tino Ellis and defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman to the practice squad.
Here’s my Monday update on Tyreek Hill and nuggets on each Dolphins position.
Here’s my Monday piece on whatever the heck happened to the Dolphins defense.
This story was originally published October 10, 2022 at 5:52 PM.
