Tua Tagovailoa and Damar Hamlin (Photos via Getty Images)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had another scary head injury during “Thursday Night Football” after he suffered a concussion after taking a big hit from Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin.
Although he was up on his feet and able to walk off under his own power, Dolphins medical staff needed just six minutes after he left the field to determine the signal caller had a concussion.
On 4th-and-4, with the Dolphins needing a first down to continue the drive or a touchdown to stay in the game, Tua Tagovailoa stepped up in the pocket and ran for it.
Despite passing the first-down line, Tagovailoa kept running and dove forward as he met Hamlin in the open field.
Tua led with his head instead of sliding, and he got the worst of that hit.
Tagovailoa picked up the first down, but he was unable to get up as fans have become accustomed to that all-too-familiar scene of him being disoriented and his hand moving uncontrollably. Players on both the Bills and Dolphins got down on one knee as the medical staff quickly ran out and assessed the quarterback.
Damar Hamlin knows all about this, as he collapsed on the field in 2023 after suffering cardiac arrest.
Damar Hamlin Sends Heartfelt Note to Tua Tagovailoa While Rejecting Claims That He Should Retire
Following the Bills’ 31–10 victory over the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium, Damar Hamlin took to social media to wish Tagovailoa the best.
My love and prayers with @Tua fasho.. Sending you strength and healing for a speedy recovery. 🙏🏾 much love broski.
— 𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐥𝐢𝐧 (@HamlinIsland) September 13, 2024
The Bills safety made it clear what his intentions were on the play that caused Tua Tagovailoa to have a concussion.
“I was just trying to make a routine tackle, trying to get them off the field on fourth down,” Hamlin said, via Tim Graham of TheAthletic.com.
Hamlin knows what it is like to make his way back to the field.
“It’s trauma. It will always be there,” Hamlin said. “I’m able to not be affected by it because of the work that I’ve done. I went through trauma therapy. I have a psychologist I talk to. It’s allowed me to push my mind forward, push my process forward. I did the hard stuff last year as far as putting the pads on, tackling, getting game-ready to know that I’m now perfectly fine and perfectly able to go back and play.”
When it came to others stating that Tua Tagovailoa should retire, Hamlin rejected that.
“You’ve got to tune all that out. At the end of the day, there’s nobody lining up on the field with you except the people that’s on your side. Ain’t nobody in the room with you when the cameras are off besides your family. Those are the opinions that matter.”
Hamlin had quite the game as he racked up a team-high ten tackles Thursday night as the Bills improved to 2–0.
