Dolphins Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa Stretchered Off the Field on TNF

After a short week full of uncertainty surrounding his health, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered what appeared to be a significant injury during the second quarter of his team's Thursday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

the entire Dolphins sideline is at midfield as they prepare to take Tua off on a stretcher. Harrowing moment here in Cincinnati pic.twitter.com/dJEPO4y21h
— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) September 30, 2022

Tagovailoa was slammed to the ground on a hard but clean sack by Bengals defensive lineman Josh Tupou. The quarterback immediately appeared in severe pain, reaching for his head with unnaturally stiff hands. The Dolphins medical staff rushed to the field for evaluation while fans and players watched in stunned silence. Tagovailoa was delicately braced on a backboard before being stretchered off the field, still in apparent shock. He was promptly ruled out with head and neck injuries. At a local hospital, he was declared conscious with movement in his extremities.

Tagovailoa had been questionable entering the game due to a back injury sustained in Sunday's Week 3 win over the Buffalo Bills. Many suspected at the time that the quarterback had suffered a concussion; after a crunching hit, Tagovailoa staggered to his feet and had difficulty standing. Tagovailoa returned to the field and completed the game, having apparently been checked and cleared of any head trauma. Whatever his injury was, it appears to have been aggravated during tonight's game.