Yahoo Sports When will Tua Tagovailoa return? Latest injury updates on Dolphins QB
The Miami Dolphins entered Week 7 following their bye on the road against the Indianapolis Colts. Miami lost 16-10 and dropped to 2-4 this season with a home game against the Arizona Cardinals next up in Week 8.
Miami lost Sunday despite out-gaining the Colts 337-284 in total yards on offense. Quarterback Tyler Huntley, in for the injured starter Tua Tagovailoa, left the game in the third quarter with a shoulder injury.
The Dolphins could get a major reinforcement at quarterback soon, with Tagovailoa potentially returning to the lineup against the Arizona Cardinals. Here's what he said today on his return.
When will Tua Tagovailoa return?
Tagovailoa is cleared to practice this week for the first time since his injury in Week 2. Tua can return as early as Week 8 against the Cardinals at home.
He said on Monday he will not wear a Guardian Cap over his helmet when he returns to the field.
"Personal choice," he explained.
Tagovailoa said he will have to be smarter while scrambling going forward. His latest concussion occurred on a six-yard scramble against Buffalo.
"My entire time playing football, I've been a competitor, and that was my edge," Tua told reporters. "When I would run from high school, even in college, I'd do the same thing. But it's a professional setting, a professional level, the best of the best. You just can't be doing that. Definitely got to stay more available for the team, for the organization, for the guys."
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Tagovailoa said he's been symptom-free since the day after his concussion in Week 2. He recalled the play in which he was injured and seeing his family after leaving the field. He expressed his frustration at being unable to help out as the team has lost three of the last four games.
"It's just frustrating that I couldn't have helped in any way outside of trying to coach and talking to guys," he said. "It's been a different type of way of leading with our guys."
After his concussion against the Bills, the Dolphins placed the 26-year-old quarterback on injured reserve, keeping him off the field for at least four games. He said the team made that choice with his best interests in mind. Multiple former NFL players voiced concern over his future, considering his three concussions in the last two seasons.
"I appreciate your concern, I really do," Tagovailoa said. "I love this game, and I love it to the death of me. That's it."
When asked about the risk of him continuing to play, Tagovailoa downplayed the issue.
"Well how much risk do we take when we get up in the morning to go drive to work?" he said. "Get into a car crash, I don't know. Everything I think takes risk. Every time we suit up, we all take a risk that we potentially get hurt, whether it's a concussion or a broken bone. There's just risk in any and everything, and I'm willing to play the odds."
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said medical experts deemed this week safe for Tagovailoa to return to practice.
"Our plan is to start him practicing on Wednesday, and the clearing doesn't come until after some of the activity," McDaniel said Monday. "But we're obviously doing so in the hope of everything going well so he can play Sunday, but that will be to be determined."
The Dolphins will have practices on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
"I don't think for myself, I put any pressure on myself coming back in, having to save the team," Tagovailoa said. "What we got to do is look at this pass game, all 11 guys on the field, were we given an opportunity with the plays that were called to score on every drive? And if we can say yes, then we can look at ourselves and see what we can do to get better moving forward."
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When was Tua Tagovailoa's injury?
Tagovailoa's injury came on Sept. 12 against the Bills on "Thursday Night Football" in Week 2.
Dolphins QB depth chart
With Tagovailoa injured, the Dolphins depth chart at quarterback includes:
Tyler Huntley
The team does not have a quarterback on the practice squad.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When will Tua Tagovailoa return? Latest updates for Dolphins QB
