The NFL stated it won’t mediate between the Miami Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa a couple of potential return date.
Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, instructed reporters Tagovailoa “is seeing the highest professional,” and the NFL won’t have a task in deciding his potential return date.
“Affected person autonomy and medical decision-making actually issues,” Sills stated.
“And I believe that is what we have now to acknowledge goes on with our concussion protocol as properly. In the end, when sufferers make selections about contemplating their careers, it has to replicate that autonomy that is generated from discussions with medical specialists giving them the very best medical recommendation,” Sills stated by way of ESPN.
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Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins earlier than a recreation towards the Buffalo Payments at Exhausting Rock Stadium Sept. 12, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Megan Briggs/Getty Photographs)
The Dolphins quarterback has been on injured reserve since Sept. 17 after struggling a scary concussion after a collision with a defender in Week 2 towards the Buffalo Payments. The concussion towards the Payments was the third documented concussion of his professional profession.
Throughout a convention name, Sills and Jeff Miller, the NFL govt vp overseeing participant well being and security, additionally stated that the NFL had its fewest variety of concussions within the preseason since monitoring began in 2015.
There have been 44 concussions in practices and video games, a lower of about 24% from final yr.
One of many causes for the decrease variety of concussions is modifications to gear.
GIANTS STAR ROOKIE MALIK NABERS REMAINS IN CONCUSSION PROTOCOL, RULED OUT VS. SEATTLE
New York Giants extensive receiver Malik Nabers (1) is helped off the sphere after an damage through the fourth quarter of a recreation towards the Dallas Cowboys Sept. 26, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photograph/Adam Starvation)
“The rationale for that change has actually to do with modifications to guidelines, modifications to gear, together with the Guardian cap, in addition to a bunch of different efforts we’ve made through the years to drive the numbers down,” Miller stated.
There was a virtually 50% discount in concussions within the preseason amongst gamers carrying the Guardian cap in mandated classes versus the pre-mandate common.
Along with the Guardian caps, practically 99% of gamers wore top-performing helmets, together with greater than 250 gamers carrying helmets that the league says present as a lot — and in some circumstances extra — safety than a helmet paired with a Guardian cap.
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Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffers an obvious concussion after hitting his head on the bottom whereas being tackled by Buffalo Payments security Damar Hamlin at Exhausting Rock Stadium. (Jasen Vinlove/Imagn Photographs)
The dynamic kickoff led to fewer accidents within the preseason, however there have been nonetheless concussions on the revamped play.
“We noticed a pair extra concussions on the dynamic kickoff than we thought we might see,” Miller stated. “We haven’t seen any concussions within the first three weeks of the dynamic kickoff within the common season.”
“Whereas there isn’t a end line in our efforts to make the sport safer, the damage information from this preseason is an instance of how the league’s deliberate strategy to participant security continues to ship outcomes,” Sills stated. “We’re dedicated to constructing a tradition of security across the recreation, and this preseason was one other optimistic step in that path.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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