Mike McDaniel makes interesting revelation amid Tua Tagovailoa’s return

Dec 11, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel reacts during the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel on Friday gave some insight on Tua Tagovailoa’s decision to return this season.

Tagovailoa has missed his team’s last four games after taking a brutal blow to the head during the Dolphins Week 2 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. After nearly six weeks on the sidelines, the Dolphins expect Tagovailoa to start at quarterback Sunday for Miami’s Week 8 contest against the Arizona Cardinals at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Fla.

While speaking to reporters on Friday, McDaniel was asked about the examination process Tagovailoa went through to get cleared for a return. McDaniel stated that Tua got a unanimous vote of confidence from a “long list of medical experts” that the QB was fit to return to the field.

“Tua met with a long list of medical experts and zero of them recommended that he shouldn’t play football,” said McDaniel.

"Tua met with a long list of medical experts and zero of them recommended that he shouldn't play football." – McDaniel on the examination process for the Miami QB

— Travis Wingfield (@WingfieldNFL) October 25, 2024

Despite Tagovailoa supposedly getting unanimous clearance from various neurologists, there are obviously still inherent risks with his decision to return. Tua has fully acknowledged those risks and has stated that he is “willing to play the odds.” He won’t even be wearing a Guardian Cap when he takes his first snap on Sunday.

In two games this season, Tagovailoa has thrown for 483 yards with 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. The Dolphins went 1-3 without their Pro Bowl QB.

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