Dolphins’ McDaniel address Tagovailoa injured reserve decision and what he’s doing now

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said the decision to place quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve, like any decision, was based on information received and “collaboration with medical experts.”

McDaniel did not disclose the medical information or details on where he stands in his recovery. The Dolphins have not said if he’s experiencing symptoms in the wake of Thursday’s concussion against Buffalo.

“This is something Chris [Grier] and I have to collaborate on,” McDaniel said Wednesday. “... You have to weigh information you have on that day at that moment and weigh all the different variables... The great thing about IR is for a month’s time, there’s no timeline. Not worrying about anything as it relates to timelines is very empowering for him as a human being.”

In accordance with the NFL’s injured reserve rules, Tagovailoa must miss at least four games -- at Seattle, home against Tennessee, at New England and at Indianapolis. He is eligible to return Oct. 27 at home against Arizona, but it’s unknown if he will be ready to play by that point.

McDaniel said Tagovailoa is not “second-guessing” the decision to place him on injured reserve.

“As a competitor, he loves and wants to play but understands this is a process of health,” McDaniel said.

Tagovailoa has been at the facility working with Dolphins medical staff and participating in meetings.

His recovery “sometimes involves sweating,” McDaniel said. “All sorts of stuff involved in his daily process. I see a true leader and teammate that’s worried about the right stuff... He’s very much invested with his teammates.”

Though Tagovailoa isn’t playing this week, McDaniel said “all he wanted to talk about” on Wednesday was “different sorts of formations, progressions and things that have to get done” in Wednesday’s practice. “He’s very active within the building.

“He is fully committed to the day and his team and is involving himself in every way that the rules allow and the process allows. Sometimes that means being on the field. Sometimes that means meetings. Sometimes that means being in the training room.”

Players must clear a five-step process to emerge from the league’s concussion protocol program. “We’re all not trying to rush the process,” McDaniel said. “We’re trying to do the process right.”

McDaniel said he doesn’t know yet if Tagovailoa will travel with the team to Seattle on Friday.

NFL teams can bring back eight players off injured reserve in a season, provided they miss at least four games. Tagovailoa, receiver River Cracraft and cornerback Cam Smith are in line to be three of those players.

The players on the physically unable to perform list -- receiver Odell Beckham Jr., linebacker Bradley Chubb and guard Isaiah Wynn -- can return after four games but do not count toward that eight-player IR limit.

Regarding backup quarterback Skylar Thompson, who will start at Seattle, McDaniel said: “The confidence in Skylar is real. He has run our plays in walk through probably more than any one on our team” for the past year.

▪ McDaniel did not say if left tackle Terron Armstead or running back Raheem Mostert would be healthy enough to play Sunday at Seattle.

McDaniel said Armstead is “good. Not overly concerned with anything at all long term. Day to day situation I feel pretty good about. He has been playing at a high level.”

Mostert is “progressing each day,” McDaniel said. “We’ll see an uptick and see how he responds.”

Armstead was not spotted at practice on Wednesday, but he usually doesn’t practice on Wednesdays. Mostert was practicing during the portion of practice open to reporters.

Guard Rob Jones (shoulder), running back Jeff Wilson Jr. (oblique) and receiver Malik Washington (quadriceps) were practicing. Safety Marcus Maye had his thumb wrapped.