What questions does NFL face after latest concussion?

Concussion in the NFL is back in the spotlight after Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered another head injury on Thursday.

After two concussions in 2022, he stayed fit last season and led Miami into the play-offs to earn a new long-term contract.

But the 26-year-old from Hawaii suffered another concussion last week – his third in less than two years and fourth overall, including his college career.

Many pundits and ex-players are now calling for him to retire – and some have even said the NFL should take the decision out of his hands.

So what questions must the league answer as it faces losing one of its franchise quarterbacks at the peak of his powers?

Should Tagovailoa retire?

Tagovailoa will now be assessed under the NFL’s return-to-participation protocol, a five-step process players must clear before returning to action.

They are assessed by a team physician and an independent neurological consultant (INC), who will also consider the player’s past exposures and medical history.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said the timeline for Tagovailoa’s potential return is “the furthest thing from my mind” as he is “caring about the human being”. But once the player is passed fit, it will then be his decision whether to put himself back in harm’s way.

Tagovailoa admitted contemplating retirement after the two concussions in 2022. At that point, he was still on a rookie contract worth $30m (£22.9m). However, he has since signed a four-year deal worth $212m (£161m).

Fellow quarterback Andrew Luck is the most high-profile example of a player who retired early for the sake of his health – aged 29 in 2019.

Over the last 10 years, Jordan Reed (30), Luke Kuechly (28), AJ Tarpley (23), Ali Marpet (28) and Chris Borland (24) have also stopped playing because of multiple concussions or concerns over the long-term impact of head traumas.

Tagovailoa, though, has a far more lucrative contract at stake.

How many concussions are too many?

The NFL addressed that question directly in…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/questions-does-nfl-face-latest-132854253.html

Author : BBC

Publish date : 2024-09-15 13:28:54

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