Buffalo Bills 31-10 Miami Dolphins: Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa forced out with concussion in Buffalo rout

James Cook scored a touchdown by catching a pass and ran for two more as the Buffalo Bills dominated the Miami Dolphins with a 31-10 victory at Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins' quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, had to exit the game early due to a concussion.

Tagovailoa exited the game in the third quarter following a collision with defensive back Damar Hamlin, which caused him to hit the back of his head on the ground. He was promptly diagnosed with a concussion, raising concerns about the remainder of his season given his previous issues with head injuries.

"It's truly heartbreaking. This is the toughest aspect of the game," said Bills quarterback Josh Allen. "I'm sending all my love and prayers to him and his family, and I hope everyone else does too, as he will really need it."

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel announced on Friday that they will be adding another quarterback while Tagovailoa recovers from his recent concussion.

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McDaniel mentioned that the team hasn't yet decided if Tagovailoa will be put on injured reserve. He was anticipated to arrive at the team's facility on Friday to begin a thorough evaluation process.

"We need to navigate the uncertainty and be ready for anything that comes our way," McDaniel stated.

McDaniel mentioned that he doesn't expect Tagovailoa to participate in Miami's upcoming game against Seattle on September 22. In his absence, backup quarterback Skylar Thompson is likely to take the start.

"I really don't know, and I'm not going to suddenly start making choices about things I don't feel directly connected to," McDaniel stated.

"I'm just saying to Tua that everyone is relying on him to step up as a father this weekend. After that, we can take things one step at a time. There won't be any discussions about the future until we have input from the medical team and the player himself."

Allen, who wore a glove on his left hand that isn't used for throwing due to an injury he sustained during the season opener in Buffalo, successfully completed 13 out of 19 passes for a total of 139 yards. He has a strong track record against the Dolphins, boasting a 12-2 record, and the Bills have performed well against Miami, winning 14 of their last 16 matchups since Sean McDermott became head coach in 2017.

"The team really performed well," McDermott commented. "They put in a lot of effort. When you give it your all, good things can occur, and sometimes luck just comes your way."

Cook caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Allen and added rushing touchdowns of one and 49 yards in the first half, leaping into the end zone to put the Bills ahead 24-7. His three touchdowns in the first half matched a team record.

"As long as they have faith in me, I'm going to reach the end zone," Cook stated.

Backup Mitchell Trubisky took over for Allen late in the fourth quarter on Thursday while the Bills were ahead by 21 points.

Tyreek Hill, the standout wide receiver for Miami, managed only three receptions for 24 yards in a week when he was in the spotlight for other reasons. Just hours before the Dolphins' first game of the season, he was involved in an incident where Miami-Dade County police officers removed him from his luxury car, forced him face down onto the pavement, and placed him in handcuffs during a traffic stop near the team's stadium.

The Buffalo team capitalized on two turnovers by Tagovailoa in the first half, scoring a total of 10 points. Ja'Marcus Ingram made an interception on a pass that was deflected, which was aimed at receiver Grant DuBose during Miami’s first possession. Shortly after, Christian Benford intercepted another pass that seemed to result from a breakdown in communication between the quarterback and receiver Robbie Chosen.

Tagovailoa tossed another pick, this time to Ingram, who ran the ball back for 31 yards, scoring and bringing Buffalo's lead to 31-10. This marked the third game in Tagovailoa's career where he threw three interceptions.

With 4:36 remaining in the third quarter, Tagovailoa rushed for a first down and collided head-on with Hamlin, hitting his head on the turf.

Players from the Bills, along with Tagovailoa's teammates, quickly signaled for medical personnel to come to the field. After a few minutes, the fifth-year quarterback was assisted to stand up and managed to walk to the locker room on his own, accompanied by trainers. He had completed 145 passing yards and threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to De'Von Achane before leaving the field.

Tagovailoa was diagnosed with two concussions in 2022.

McDaniel expressed his concern, stating, "My main worry is for the individual. They'll steer the ship once we have the right information."

The Bills are set to play against Jacksonville at home on Monday, September 23, while the Dolphins will head to Seattle on Sunday, September 22.

Catch the San Francisco 49ers taking on the Minnesota Vikings in Week Two, airing live on Sky Sports NFL starting at 6 PM this Sunday. Then, tune in for the Cincinnati Bengals versus the Kansas City Chiefs at 9:25 PM. You can also stream the games on NOW.

Sky Sports+ is now live and will be part of Sky TV, the NOW streaming service, and the Sky Sports app. This means that Sky Sports subscribers can enjoy more than 50% additional live sports this year without paying anything extra. You can watch the new EFL season, Test cricket, and many other exciting sporting events on NOW.