NFL Hands Over Decision-Making on Tua Tagovailoa’s Comeback to Player and Medical Staff

After recent calls for the NFL to force Tua Tagovailoa to retire, the league has announced it will not be involved in the decision.

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In a recent media conference call, Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, clarified that the league will not intervene in the decision-making process regarding Tua Tagovailoa’s return to the Miami Dolphins. He emphasized that it is ultimately Tagovailoa’s responsibility to make choices about his health based on guidance from his consulting doctors, highlighting the importance of patient autonomy in medical decisions.

“Ultimately, when patients make decisions about considering their careers, it has to reflect that autonomy that’s generated from discussions with medical experts giving them the best medical advice,” Sills explained.

Dr. Sills stated that Tagovailoa has been working closely with the Dolphins’ medical staff while also consulting top neurological experts across the country. This is crucial as he navigates the implications of the repeated concussions that have impacted his career and placed him on injured reserve.

After sustaining his third concussion in Week Two against the Buffalo Bills, Tagovailoa is eligible to return from injured reserve as soon as Week Eight, when the Dolphins face the Arizona Cardinals. Sills reiterated that there is no specific threshold of concussions that dictates a player’s clearance to return to play; each case is evaluated individually based on the player’s unique circumstances and needs, leaving the final decisions to the player and his medical team.