MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Broward Health Medical Center’s chief of neurosurgery weighed in Friday on the growing concerns over Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s long-term health after he sustained a concussion — his third while playing in the NFL.
Christopher Roberts, both a fan and a doctor, recounted watching Tagovailoa suffer one of his injuries in Thursday night’s Dolphins-Bills game.
As a fan, he thought, “not again,” but as a neurosurgeon, Roberts quickly noticed tell-tale signs of trauma, including a posture known as the “fencing response,” often seen in concussions.
“Anytime you strike your head like that and you have that maneuver with the hands … it’s just concerning, You know right away something is wrong,” said Roberts. “A clenching of the arms sometimes it can be a flexing of the arms and its just when the brain has lost control of the body.”
Watch the 5 p.m. report on what doctors, coaches and Tagovailoa’s teammates are saying about his latest concussion:
Tagovailoa missed several games in 2022 due to concussions, in addition to suffering a frightening back injury.
His injury history extends to his college years, where he sustained a concussion in 2020. The repeated head injuries have sparked widespread concern for his future health.
“There are legitimate long-term worries here,” Roberts said.
A Boston University study highlighted the potential danger for NFL players, finding that 92% of nearly 400 studied had developed Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head trauma. Symptoms include memory loss and personality changes, which can emerge years later.
Despite advancements in concussion protocols and safety measures, such as Tagovailoa’s use of a new helmet and martial arts training, Roberts shared that there is no foolproof way to prevent or even detect all concussions.
“I mean if you have a bad enough concussion it can severely affect your function in life,” he said. “We saw with Mohammad Ali after his long career at the end of his career he started developing Parkinsonian type of movements and things like that so you certainly get concerned with further brain damage down the road.”
An emotional McDaniel told Tua that he’s “the starting quarterback of this Miami Dolphins family and to go take a breath and I’ll see you soon.”
“You never like to see him go down, especially someone like Tua,” said Dolphins defensive tackle Calais Campbell. “Anytime you get off the field and get up, it’s a good sign.”
“All of our prayers are out to him and his family,” said Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold. “We’re all tight-knit family right now so you’re just hoping that he’s safe.”
He also cautioned that as players age, brain function naturally declines, making the impacts of concussions more apparent.
As Tagovailoa continues his career, the questions surrounding his health and safety remain at the forefront for both fans and medical experts.