NFL and NFLPA work to make changes to concussion protocols after Tua Tagovailoa was concussed

The NFL and NFLPA have announced they are working together to modify concussion protocols and anticipate to make changes in the ‘coming days’. 

The announcement came after Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was taken to hospital with a concussion in Thursday’s NFL game against the Bengals after he finished out his side’s win over the Bills last Sunday despite receiving a brutal hit in the first half. 

The decision to clear the quarterback and allow him to play against the Bengals was met with criticism and the league and the players’ association have now agreed that modifications to the Concussion Protocol are needed to enhance player safety.

The joint investigation into the application of the Concussion Protocol involving Tagovailoa remains ongoing and the statement said no conclusions about medical errors or protocol violations have yet been made. 

The statement, released Saturday evening, read: ‘The joint NFL-NFLPA investigation into the application of the Concussion Protocol involving Miami Dolphins’ quarterback Tua Tagovailoa remains ongoing. Therefore, we have not made any conclusions about medical errors or protocol violations.

‘The NFL and the NFLPA agree that modifications to the Concussion Protocol are needed to enhance player safety. 

The NFL and NFLPA announced they are working together to modify concussion protocols

Tua Tagovailoa stayed down in the game vs. the Bills after having his head slammed on the turf

He was held up by his teammates after falling back down, but he passed concussion checks

‘The NFLPA’s Mackey-White Health & Safety Committee and the NFL’s Head Neck and Spine Committee have already begun conversations around the use of the term “Gross Motor Instability” and we anticipate changes to the protocol being made in the coming days based on what has been learned thus far in the review process.

‘The NFL and NFLPA share a strong appreciation for the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultants who contribute their time and expertise to our game solely to advance player safety. This program has made our game safer for the athletes who play it for the past twelve seasons.’

Tagovailoa finished out the Dolphins’ win over the Bills after receiving a brutal hit in the first half, as his head hit the turf and he fell back to the ground after standing up.

Tagovailova suffered a head injury when Josh Tupou of the Bengals tackled him Thursday

The quarterback’s hands appeared to go into the Fencing response after his head hit the turf

The gravity of his injury last weekend vs. the Bills was reinforced Thursday against the Bengals, as he left the field on a stretcher after another brutal blow to the head.

That time, Tagovailoa was diagnosed with a concussion and hospitalized (he was discharged Thursday night and flew home with the team), lending credence to the idea that he shouldn’t have been playing in the Dolphins’ Week 4 matchup to begin with. 

The quarterback was officially diagnosed with a back problem Sunday and it is claimed that concussion protocols were followed. 

Tagovailoa was taken off on a stretcher Thursday after a second concerning blow in four days

The league’s chief medical officer Dr Allen Sills told DailyMail.com: ‘Obviously we’re always concerned when any of our players suffers an injury – of any type – and it’s our goal to prevent as many injuries as possible and certainly to quickly diagnose any injuries that occur and treat them appropriately.

‘I’m a neurosurgeon and I have spent my entire career treating people with brain and spinal cord injuries – both athletes and non-athletes – and it’s been my passion and practice and my livelihood for many decades. So I’m entirely devoted to this issue and the idea that NFL can and will be a leader in all of sport in this area. 

‘We have made a number of changes to our concussion protocol… we take a very detailed and involved look at ourselves, our outcomes, our procedures every single year in the idea of getting better. And we have got better and I believe we’ll continue to get better. 

The NFL’s chief medical officer has insisted the league will ‘learn’ from the Tua situation

‘We will get better through this incident as well. That’s the nature of medicine. As a physician, I certainly don’t do things identical today to what I did five or 10 years ago. That quest to improve will continue.’

The NFLPA announced Wednesday that they were reviewing the incident in Miami and NFL EVP of communications Jeff Miller told reporters that the review is expected to take one or two weeks.

The medical consultant who cleared Tagovailoa in the concussion check last Sunday has reportedly been fired.

The team reported their quarterback had suffered a back injury, and he was cleared by the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant (UNC) on the night – but ProFootballTalk are now reporting that the doctor has since been fired.