Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was ruled out for Week 5 and remains in the concussion protocol after suffering a head injury.
During Miami’s Week 4 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Tagovailoa’s head slammed into the turf after being thrown to the ground in the first half. The severity of the head injury caused a fencing response, with Tagovailoa’s arms and fingers locking into an unnatural position.
He was immediately carted and hospitalized, sparking more criticism against the NFL and the Dolphins’ medical staff for allowing Tagovailoa to play days after he showed instability following a hit to the head on Sep. 25. While he was released from the hospital Thursday night and flew home with the team, he is still not ready to return.
With Tagovailoa sidelined, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater steps in as the starter. In two relief appearances this season, the 29-year-old quarterback holds a 56% completion rate with 193 passing yards and a 1-1 TD-INT line on 25 attempts. He performed fairly well in emergency relief of Tagovailoa last Thursday, finishing with an 84.1 quarterback rating.