Tua Tagovailoa is practicing for the first time since suffering a concussion in Week 2

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Tua Tagovailoa practiced Wednesday for the first time since suffering a concussion in Week 2, and the Dolphins (2-4) are targeting him to start Sunday against Arizona.

For that to happen, Tagovailoa still has to go through the final stages of the NFL’s concussion protocol, but he took a step closer to that goal by returning to the practice field.

“I feel really good about how he’s approached this whole process and how he’s come out of it so far,” coach Mike McDaniel said before Wednesday’s practice. “And you hope for a few days of good work so that you don’t have any slip-ups and “You’re cleared to play.”

Tagovailoa has met with numerous medical experts who specialize in brain and head injuries since he was diagnosed with the third concussion of his NFL career on Sept. 12 following a collision with Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin. Experts thought it was safe for him to return to football, McDaniel said Monday.

Tagovailoa said he would not wear a Guardian Cap — the protective soft-shell helmet cover that players can optionally wear in games — saying it was a “personal decision.” Tagovailoa already wears a quarterback-specific helmet designed to help reduce head injuries.

Tagovailoa suffered a concussion twice in 2022 – the latter briefly rendering him unconscious – and suffered a third serious blow to the head that was not diagnosed as a concussion.

The fifth-year quarterback cited those hits, which sparked widespread debate about his health and led to changes to the NFL’s concussion protocol, as reason for ongoing conversations about whether he should continue playing football.

“I appreciate your concern, I really do,” Tagovailoa said. “I love this game and I love it to death, that’s all.”

Tagovailoa didn’t suggest that this latest concussion would completely change his approach to the game, but said he had to “be smart.”

“Throughout my football days, I was a competitor,” Tagovailoa said, “and that was – or was – kind of my advantage coming out of high school, and even in college I did the same thing.” But it is a professional environment; This is the professional level, the best of the best, you just can’t do that. So we definitely need to remain more available to the team, the organization and our guys.”

The Dolphins signed veteran quarterback CJ Beathard along with wide receiver Tarik Black to their practice squad on Wednesday and released tight end Hayden Rucci from the practice squad. Quarterback Tyler Huntley, who has started the last three games, is expected to be unavailable for Sunday’s game due to a shoulder injury. McDaniel said he will wait and see how Beathard, Tim Boyle and Skylar Thompson perform in practice before deciding on a replacement.

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AP NFL: