James Cook caught a touchdown pass and had two scores as the Buffalo Bills defeated Miami 31-10 at Hard Rock Stadium. Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was forced off the field early with a concussion.

Tagovailoa left the field in the third quarter after colliding with defensive back Damar Hamlin and hitting the back of his head on the turf. Tagovailoa was quickly ruled out with the concussion, which cast doubt on his season after a history of head injuries.

“Very sad. It’s the worst part of the game,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said. “Nothing but love and prayers for him and his family, and hopefully everybody sends those, because he’s going to need them.”

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel confirmed Friday that they will bring in another quarterback while Tagovailoa recovers from his latest concussion.

McDaniel added that the team has not yet made a decision on placing Tagovailoa on the injured list. Tagovailoa was expected at the team’s facility on Friday to begin the process of a serious evaluation.

“We just have to operate in the unknown and be prepared for any situation,” McDaniel said.

McDaniel added that he doesn’t see Tagovailoa playing in Miami’s next game at Seattle on Sept. 22, as backup Skylar Thompson is in pole position to start in his absence.

“I have no idea and I’m not going to make any decisions that I’m not involved in in key parts of it,” McDaniel said.

“I just say to Tua that everyone is counting on you to be a father and you’re a father this weekend. And then we’ll move on. There will be no talk about where we’re going in that regard… none of that will happen without the expertise of the doctors and the real player.”

Allen, playing with a glove on his left hand that he doesn’t use for throwing after injuring it in Buffalo’s opener, completed 13 of 19 passes for 139 yards. He is 12-2 against the Dolphins, and the Bills are 14-2 against Miami since McDermott’s first year as head coach in 2017.

“The guys did a great job,” McDermott said. “These guys work hard. Good things happen when you work hard, and sometimes the ball finds you that way.”

Cook caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Allen and scored on runs of one and 49 yards in the first half, flipping into the end zone to give the Bills a 24-7 lead. The three first-half touchdowns tied a team record.

“As long as they trust me, I’m going to get in the end zone,” Cook said.

Reserve Mitchell Trubisky replaced Allen late in the fourth period on Thursday when Buffalo led by 21 points.

Miami star receiver Tyreek Hill was limited to three catches for 24 yards during a week in which he dominated national headlines. Hill was pulled from his sports car, pushed face-first into the street and handcuffed by Miami-Dade County police officers during a traffic stop outside the Dolphins’ home stadium hours before their season opener.

Buffalo scored 10 points off two first-half turnovers by Tagovailoa. Ja’Marcus Ingram intercepted Tagovailoa’s pass on a tipped ball intended for receiver Grant DuBose on Miami’s opening drive. Then Christian Benford intercepted a pass on what appeared to be a miscommunication between the quarterback and receiver Robbie Chosen.

Tagovailoa threw another interception to Ingram. Ingram returned the ball 31 yards for a score that put Buffalo up 31-10. It was Tagovailoa’s third career game with three interceptions.

Tagovailoa ran for a first down with 4:36 left in the third period, collided head-first with Hamlin and hit his head on the ground.

Bills players, as well as Tagovailoa’s teammates, immediately waved at coaches to come onto the field. The fifth-year quarterback was helped to his feet after a few minutes and walked under his own power to the locker room with coaches after throwing for 145 yards and a 5-yard touchdown to De’Von Achane.

Tagovailoa was diagnosed with two concussions in 2022.

McDaniel said, “I’m just concerned about the human. He will fly the ship if we have the right information.”

What now?

The Bills host Jacksonville on Monday, September 23, while the Dolphins travel to Seattle on Sunday, September 22.

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