Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is hopeful that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will return to action for the team’s Week 8 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

Tagovailoa was recently designated to return from injured reserve after experiencing a concussion during the Dolphins Week 2 game against the Buffalo Bills. McDaniel fielded questions from the media on Monday ahead of the on Sunday matchup. While addressing the team’s 2-4 record, the Dolphins coach said he’s hopeful that Tagovailoa will suit up for Miami after it was reported that he would be available to practice following the backing of trusted medical experts.

“Every concussion is unique. That’s why we rely upon people who study the brain for a living. That was the driving force,” said the coach for the team’s choice. The Dolphins head coach said that the Pro Bowl QB used his time on the sideline to improve his overall health and collect medical data regarding the future of his career. Tagovailoa also continues to evaluate the team’s performance and call out what needs to be fixed to win games.

Tagovailoa has suffered a total of four football-related concussions dating back to 2017 during his time with Alabama. The repeat concerns led many NFL fans, players, coaches, and analysts to call for his retirement due to potential long-term effects.

This season, the NFL introduced Guardian Caps and soft-cover pads designed to be worn over the exterior of NFL helmets for extra protection against concussions. Despite the outcry of consideration for Tagovailoa’s health when he’s done playing football, McDaniel reiterated that the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement states that an organization can not force a player to wear protective equipment.

“That’s a great question for Tua,” said McDaniel on whether the franchise QB will wear the cap. “We aren’t allowed to mandate things that aren’t mandated regarding a player’s attire. In terms of his career, we have a high priority to pass forth information and knowledge so that decisions can be made. I always preach that it’s the individual player’s determination of they want to do so. One thing we won’t do is scurt the information gathering process.”

Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion in a big collision with Damar Hamlin

Tua’s concussion has sidelined him for six weeks ( 

Image:

Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

The NFL reported that the Dolphins were preparing to open Tagovailoa’s practice window and take him off of injury reserve, giving him 21 days to appear on the active roster. His first week of being capable of playing will fall on the same week as the Cardinals game on the road, with McDaniel previously sharing his belief that the QB “will play football this year.”

When asked his observations about Tagovailoa’s progress, McDaniel noted the quarterback’s maturity and continued desire to win. Since the fifth-year quarterback’s Week 2 exit, the team had lost three of its previous four games.

“He’s really shown his maturity. It continues to evolve. It shows that he’s found a way to be even more of a leader by investing in his teammates, even when he can’t play,” McDaniel said. “Being the franchise QB, I think he’s taught a lot of his teammates about himself and how much he’s along the ride with them. In circumstances like this, it would be easy to justify someone thinking about their own issues and problems.”