Joe Burrow tossed a late two-yard landing move to Hayden Hurst to seal a 27-15 win for the Cincinnati Bengals over Miami in a Thursday recreation marred by the horrific sight of Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa being taken off on a stretcher.
Tagovailoa was chased down and thrown to the turf by Cincinnati’s Josh Tupou within the first half. He remained down for greater than seven minutes earlier than being taken to a hospital with reported head and neck accidents. The Dolphins later mentioned they anticipated him to be discharged and fly residence along with his crew.
The 24-year-old Tagovailoa was affected by a sore again and was listed as questionable for many of the week forward of the sport.
He briefly left Sunday’s 21-19 victory over the Buffalo Payments after showing to be disoriented by what the crew initially mentioned was a head harm after taking a tough hit from Payments linebacker Matt Milano late within the first half. He missed simply three snaps and returned after halftime, a choice that prompted a joint overview by the NFL and Nationwide Soccer League Gamers Affiliation of what went into the choice to permit him to return to the sport.
The crew and Tagovailoa mentioned after the sport the quarterback had a again harm that induced his awkward stumble and fall after he was slammed into the turf within the second quarter. The crew mentioned on Monday that Tagovailoa was not in concussion protocol.
Tagovailoa mentioned he “hyper-extended” his again on Sunday after getting his legs caught underneath one other participant on a quarterback sneak. Some criticized the choice to play Tagovailoa so quickly after his accidents in Sunday’s recreation.
Corridor of Famer Shannon Sharpe tweeted: “That’s a severe harm. Tua shouldn’t have been on the market with Sunday Thursday flip round. Typically gamers want defending from themselves. Dolphins failed Tua.”
After Thursday’s recreation Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel defended the choice to play Tagovailoa, and mentioned the quarterback had handed various checks by impartial specialists earlier than taking part in in opposition to the Bengals.
“I don’t suppose an harm from final week made him fall a sure manner this week,” mentioned McDaniel. “I’ve completely zero persistence for, or ever would I, put a participant in hurt’s manner. That’s not what I’m about in any respect.”
Vonn Bell’s interception of Miami backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater – the protection’s second choose of the evening – with three minutes left within the recreation arrange the Bengals’ ultimate drive. Evan McPherson additionally kicked two fourth-quarter discipline targets – together with a 57-yarder.
Burrow was 20 for 31 for 287 yards and two touchdowns because the Bengals received their second recreation in 5 days after dropping the primary of the season. Tee Higgins caught seven passes for 124 yards and a TD. Tagovailoa was 8 for 14 for 110 yards and an interception earlier than his harm. Bridgewater completed 14 for 23 for 193 yards, a landing and an interception in reduction.