Tua Tagovailoa is set to make his return after missing several weeks due to a concussion. According to The Athletic, the Miami Dolphins’ starting quarterback will be back in time for their Week 8 game against the Arizona Cardinals, the earliest possible date for his return from injured reserve.
Head coach Mike McDaniel informed the team that Tagovailoa will practice on Wednesday, marking the opening of his practice window.
The 26-year-old quarterback suffered the concussion during the Dolphins’ Week 2 matchup against the Buffalo Bills, when he collided with Bills safety Damar Hamlin while attempting to gain a first down. After showing symptoms of a concussion, he was ruled out for the remainder of the game and entered the concussion protocol.
While on injured reserve, Tagovailoa consulted with neurologists, raising concerns about his long-term health given his history of concussions. This led to speculation about whether he might retire. However, reports indicate that he is eager to continue playing.
Throughout the recovery process, McDaniel had been tight-lipped about a timeline, but last week he expressed optimism that Tagovailoa would return to play this season.
Before his injury, Tagovailoa had thrown for 483 yards, with two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Currently, the Dolphins hold a 2-3 record and are struggling offensively, averaging the fewest points per game in the NFL (12.0), along with the fourth-fewest passing yards (1,039) and the lowest number of passing touchdowns (2).
