Miami, Oct 26, V7N- Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has successfully cleared concussion protocol and is set to play against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, as announced by head coach Mike McDaniel on Friday. Tagovailoa, who is 26 years old, has been sidelined since suffering his third confirmed concussion in just five NFL seasons during a Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Although he has not yet been activated from injured reserve, McDaniel confirmed that after a practice involving contact and a meeting with an independent doctor, Tagovailoa was fully cleared to return.

The Dolphins had been targeting a Week 8 comeback for their starting quarterback, who has been a key player for the team. In his absence, Miami has struggled with a 1-3 record, scoring only 40 points in those four games. McDaniel praised Tagovailoa for being "fully engaged" throughout his recovery process, highlighting his dedication to controlling what he can and his leadership role with the team, even from the sidelines. Tagovailoa has expressed his eagerness to return to play, firmly stating his desire to focus on being a player rather than a coach.

During Tagovailoa's absence, Skylar Thompson (one start), Tyler Huntley (three starts), and Tim Boyle filled the quarterback position. However, both Thompson and Huntley are currently dealing with injuries, prompting the Dolphins to sign veteran C.J. Beathard to their practice squad this week. Huntley has since been placed on injured reserve.

Tagovailoa was selected by the Dolphins with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension in the offseason. In his career, he has played in 55 games, boasting a 33-20 record as a starter. He has completed 66.8% of his passes for 13,122 yards, along with 83 touchdowns and 40 interceptions.

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