Getty; Credit - Carmen Mandato

Tua Tagovailoa Exits Game Vs. Bills, Confirmed To Have Sustained Third Official NFL Concussion Of His Career

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained a concussion during Thursday night's 31-10 loss vs. the Buffalo Bills.

Videos by FanBuzz

With 4:30 left in the third quarter Tua ran the ball up the middle on a 4th down & four yards to go play.

That is to say, after colliding with Bills safety Damar Hamlin, he laid on the ground for quite some time. To note, the posture of Tua following the initial impact indicates that he most likely definitely suffered head trauma.

In particular, his right hand curled up into a fist immediately after getting hit, and this more often than not is a sign of a loss of consciousness.

To point out, this was eerily similar to previous reactions Tua had during the 2022 NFL season, which caused him to miss some games. Notably during Week 3 (2022), Tua had a blow to the head in a matchup that was also vs. the Bills (21-19 win), as he hit his head on the field after being knocked backwards. This went viral with Tua appearing to be dizzy and not able to stand up straight as his teammates tried to help him keep his balance.

Nevertheless, after leaving the game early, he somehow passed concussion protocol that week and four days later he appeared in a "Thursday Night Football" game vs. the Cincinnati Bengals (27-15 loss), in which Tua then tragically suffered a similar hit after being sacked, with his head recoiling after hitting the ground.

In view of this play, it was more severe, and it almost mirrored how Tua reacted tonight, as he raised his hands immediately along with his fingers rolling up, which is a neurological response to head trauma.

Ultimately, when this happened, he was stretchered off the field and transported to the local medical center hospital in Cincinnati. The severity of the injury, caused many to question if Tua should retire, as he even admitted that he contemplated it himself.

Even more, he entered concussion protocol yet again that season after a Christmas Day game vs. the Green Bay Packers (26-20 loss).

Being that, in view of tonight's TNF injury, there will be even more questions regarding the future of Tua's NFL career, as this past offseason he signed a 4-year/$212.4M contract extension with the Dolphins, but the uncertainty surrounding his health looms large.

After leaving the field vs. the Bills, Tua spent the remainder of the game being checked on by the medical staff in the locker room.

To point out, this is the Dolphins QB's fourth concussion (third official one in NFL career) and he is only starting his fifth season.

According to CBS Sports HQ injury expert Marty Jaramillo, Tua could be out at least eight to 12 weeks depending on the test results, and he noted that retirement should be considered for the 26-year-old quarterback.

"Textbook sign of a severe head injury," Jaramillo said to CBS Sports. "He hit his head twice. First on the tackle, second on landing. This young man simply doesn't have the luxury of having multiple concussions and [then thinking] he will have a long career. ... [It's] not fair to himself and his family."

Related: NFL's Solution To Detecting Concussions Already Exists, They're Just Not Using It