Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is expected to return to the practice field Wednesday as part of his progression through concussion protocol.
The third-year signal caller’s is not expected to play in Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, with rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson set to make his first career start for Miami in Week 6.
Tagovailova hit his head against the turf during a September 29 game against the Cincinnati Bengals and had to be taken off the field on a stretcher before being taken to a hospital.
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Just days before in a game against the Buffalo Bills, Tagovailoa took a hard hit late in the first half and went to the locker room but returned for the start of the third quarter.
Tagovailoa did not show any signs or symptoms of a concussion during the locker room exam, the rest of the game, or throughout the following week, the league and union said. But immediately after he took the hit from linebacker Matt Milano, gross motor instability was present as Tagovailoa was visibly disoriented.
After the game, Tagovailoa and Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said the player had suffered a back injury earlier in the contest on a quarterback sneak.
Dolphins quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is still showing no concussion symptoms after a hit against the New York Jets on Sunday caused him to leave the game, but he remains in the concussion protocol after the NFL's revised concussion rules.
Head coach Mike McDaniel did commit to Thompson, who entered Sunday’s game after Bridgewater left, as the Dolphins starter Sunday against the Vikings on Wednesday.
Bridgewater's progress through the league's concussion protocol is still ongoing, McDaniel said Oct. 12. He added that Bridgewater will have very limited practice time if any this week, and that makes him questionable to suit up against Minnesota.