Quarterback Injury Raises Questions About NFL Concussion Protocols

Facts

• On Thursday, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa hit his head on the turf during a game with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was hospitalized with what might have been his second serious head injury in five days, renewing questions about the league's concussion protocols.
• After the hit, Tagovailoa raised his hands with his fingers splayed, which can signify a brain injury. The Dolphins reported he suffered “head and neck injuries,” but he was conscious and had movement in all his extremities. He was put into the NFL’s concussion protocol and discharged in time to travel home with the team.
• This followed another injury on Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. He re-entered that game and later responded to speculation that he had suffered a concussion by describing his injury as a hyperextended back.
• The National Football League Players’ Association (NFLPA) began investigating whether proper concussion protocols were followed after Sunday's game. The Dolphins claimed Tagovailoa passed all his neurological tests, which an independent party conducts.
• The NFL has been subject to criticism over how it manages players' head injuries and cognitive issues for years, highlighted by a $1B settlement with former players after they filed a concussion lawsuit in 2015. The agreement was modified earlier this year after two former Black players who submitted claims to the program alleged the NFL had race-corrected their neurological exams.
• The NFLPA put out a statement Thursday via Twitter, writing, "Player health and safety is at the core of the union's mission. Our concern tonight is for Tua, and we hope for a full and speedy recovery. Our investigation into the potential protocol violation is ongoing."

Sources: New York Times, New York Post, CBS, and CNN.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by FOX News. While Tagovailoa’s injuries are concerning, all protocols have been followed in accordance with NFL practice. The Dolphins have shown that they take the NFL’s rules around concussions seriously by complying with the league's investigation and are rightly supporting the quarterback's recovery.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by RT. By rushing Tagovailoa back to the field after Sunday's injury, the Dolphins displayed a complete dereliction of duty and lack of care. The fact that protocols were seemingly followed calls into question the NFL's lax rules. It remains to be seen how and if Tagovailoa will recover.