On Monday, Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel announced that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is expected to return to play this season.

This marked McDaniel’s first public statement regarding Tagovailoa’s potential to play since he sustained his third NFL concussion on September 12.

Tagovailoa will conclude his four-week injured reserve period this week while the Dolphins prepare to face the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday.

The earliest he can come back is in Week 8, when the Dolphins play against the Arizona Cardinals on October 27.

“He’s still gathering more information this week. In terms of a timeline, I know he won’t be playing this week. However, I do anticipate him getting back to the field in 2024,” McDaniel told reporters. “The specifics of that will depend on the ongoing evaluation as we still have time before he can consider any options.”

“We’ll ensure he proceeds with caution this week and reassess thereafter.”

Currently, the Dolphins hold a record of 2-3 this season. They have won just 1 out of 3 games played without Tagovailoa as their starting quarterback. During his absence, the team has relied on backup quarterbacks Skyler Thompson, Tim Boyle, and Tyler Huntley.

Tagovailoa’s most recent concussion occurred after he collided head-first with Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin during a Thursday Night Football matchup at the start of Week 2.

This incident caused Tagovailoa to show the “fencing” response, similar to what he exhibited during his first recognized concussion in a Thursday game against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 29, 2022.

Additionally, Tagovailoa experienced a concussion during a Christmas Day game in 2022 against the Green Bay Packers.