Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa risked suffering another head injury Monday night after appearing to lead with his helmet on a tackle attempt – mere moments after an interview aired in which the star quarterback shared his desire to not be the “poster boy for concussions.”

With just over 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter of the Dolphins’ matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, Tagovailoa’s errant pass intended for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was picked off by Christian Rozeboom. After returning the interception 30 yards down the sideline, the linebacker was finally brought down by the signal-caller.

Yet in the process of taking down the defender, Tagovailoa was kneed in the side of the head and crumpled to the turf. Following a fumble by the Rams on the ensuing play, he was able to return to the game for the Dolphins’ ensuing drive.

Dolphins fans likely let out a collective sigh of relief upon seeing Tagovailoa immediately trot back onto the field, considering his extensive history with head injuries. After suffering his third diagnosed concussion in two years during a Week 2 game versus the Buffalo Bills, he was sidelined for four games and five weeks.

Speaking to ESPN’s Jeff Darlington in a pre recorded interview that aired prior to kickoff on Monday, Tagovailoa asserted: “What I don’t want to be known for is the poster boy for concussions. That’s for sure.”

Discussing the moment he suffered the concussion upon lowering his head into the chest of safety Damar Hamlin, Tagovailoa recalled, “From the second it happened, obviously not a good feeling. Being out there on the field, knowing the situation, trying to do all I can to get a first down, not knowing [if I] can slide in this situation.

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Tua Tagovailoa missed four games earlier this season while recovering from a concussion

Tua Tagovailoa missed four games earlier this season while recovering from a concussion ( 

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Getty Images)

“I ended up making a decision that obviously everyone that has supported me – and everyone that doesn’t support me that has been looking and watching that game – would be like, ‘Dude, what are you doing?’”

On the heels of the frightening health setback, droves of fans and pundits alike called for Tagovailoa to hang up the cleats. But according to the 26-year-old, no medical experts told him that he needed to retire.

“They would just ask me how I felt about everything, and from there it was just testing, testing and continued questions. And it was sort of like, ‘Alright, here’s the information we have,’” Tagovailoa said. “If they were to tell me that I couldn’t play, I would have definitely taken that into consideration, but there were no talks like that.

“It never stuck in my mind that I was ever thinking of retiring. Whether the doctors told me that or not, it would’ve just been information for me. With what I was doing working out week-to-week, I’m in here everyday. It’s like a no-brainer, what I’m I working hard for then?”