The Miami Dolphins listed Tua Tagovailoa on this week’s injury report with a right‑hip issue and a left‑thumb concern. He was limited on Wednesday, upgraded to full participation on Thursday, and head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed Friday that Tagovailoa will start against the Los Angeles Chargers.
As the Dolphins prepare for Week 7, a stark warning from a former Miami star has put Tagovailoa’s long‑term health back in focus.
What Did Reggie Bush Say About Tua Tagovailoa’s Health?
Super Bowl champion and former Dolphins running back Reggie Bush voiced serious concerns about Tagovailoa’s concussion history and tolerance for further head trauma. “The thing that worries me with Tua is just the amount of concussions he’s had. That’s my only worry with Tua, and one more concussion, one more bad concussion, and I’m taking him out for good. I’m not even allowing him to go back in there,” Bush said to RG.org.
Bush’s remarks echo lingering league‑wide questions dating to 2022, when Tagovailoa was removed from two games and placed in the NFL’s concussion protocol following documented head injuries.
“That’s just the player in me. Look at Brett Favre right now he just announced he has Parkinson’s Disease. Look at the residual effects. Brett Favre got hit a lot. We know that, we saw that, some nasty hits. That’s for a different conversation, I don’t want to harp on that,” Bush added.
Dolphins’ Response and Tua Tagovailoa’s Week 6 Status
Head coach McDaniel clarified the hip is on the right side and unrelated to prior hip injuries, and noted the thumb has not affected Tagovailoa’s ball grip or practice workload. Offensive coordinator Frank Smith said Thursday the team was “not anticipating any setback” and was “not overall concerned” about Tagovailoa’s availability for Sunday.
Miami continues to emphasize adherence to the NFL’s concussion protocol, immediate sideline evaluation for suspected head injuries, independent neurological clearance, and a graduated return‑to‑participation process, as standard operating procedure. Within that framework, Tagovailoa’s Week 6 progression tracked normally.
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A cautious midweek limitation was followed by full participation and game confirmation once aggravation was ruled out. The Dolphins have also monitored parallel injuries (including center Aaron Brewer’s pectoral) but have kept Tagovailoa’s practice plan intact, signaling confidence in both his near‑term readiness and the team’s approach to medical decisions.
Bush’s player‑centric perspective, prioritizing removal after any “bad” concussion, underscores the broader debate about long‑term neurological risk in football. Tagovailoa practiced through the week, was cleared to start, and the staff publicly downplayed concern about his hip and thumb.
As the Dolphins head into a critical road test, the tension between present availability and prudent caution remains the context around their quarterback, one the franchise says it will manage by the book if circumstances shift.