Tua Tagovailoa Injury: QB Suffers Concussion, Exhibits Posturing Response

Dolphins' quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was taken out of Thursday's game on a stretcher and subsequently ruled out after absorbing direct impact to his head and back on a sack in the second quarter.

The impact to the head and Tagovailoa's posturing response – the curling of his fingers caught on the broadcast – are both indicative of a concussion, according to the Pro Football Docs. 

Tagovailoa was ruled out with head and neck injuries and taken to a local Cincinnati hospital for further tests. The Dolphins announced that he has movement in all of his extremities.

The 24-year-old didn't appear to suffer any neck or spine injuries on the sack, according to the Pro Football Docs.

Consecutive and repeat concussions often require absences of a month or more, but the greater concern is for second impact syndrome, which can develop when someone suffers a second concussion before healing from the first.

Tagovailoa suffered a hyperextended back and exhibited outward signs of head trauma in the Dolphins' win four days ago but returned for the second half and missed only one day of practice this week.

A litany of former players, reporters, and concussion activists have expressed thoughts on Twitter with how the team handled Tagovailoa's recent head injuries.

The NFL reportedly confirmed that the Dolphins followed appropriate concussion protocol last weekend, responding to the NFLPA's request to investigate immediately after Sunday's game.

Kaylee Hartung reported out of halftime that the fourth-year starter looked for Mike McDaniel after the play to ask him what happened on the play.