MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa is now dealing with the third diagnosed concussion of his NFL career, all of which occurred in the last 24 months.

And now there are questions about his future, both in the short and long term.

The Miami Dolphins quarterback was injured during his team’s game 31-10 loss against the Buffalo Bills on thursday evening, maintain the injury on a play where he collided with Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin. Tagovailoa, who was successfully driving for a first down, initiated the contact by dropping his shoulder toward Hamlin instead of sliding as many quarterbacks do on a scramble.

Players from both teams immediately began signaling that Tagovailoa needed medical attention as he lay on the turf, displaying signs typically associated with a traumatic brain injury. He remained on the court for several minutes, then got up and walked to the sideline after the third-quarter play.

Not long after, he walked to the tunnel, looked into the stands before smiling and heading to the locker room. It took the Dolphins only a few minutes to announce that he would not be returning to the game.

What do we know about Tagovailoa’s concussion?

The only thing anyone could say for sure late Thursday night and early Friday morning was that he had a concussion. The Dolphins’ process of evaluating his condition began in earnest Friday, and there’s no timetable for how long that will take.

He is placed in the NFL’s Concussion Protocol and will have to successfully complete a series of tests and evaluations before he or the Dolphins can even think about letting him return to the field. The Dolphins will bring in another quarterback, coach Mike McDaniel said Friday, simply because they know they will be without Tagovailoa indefinitely.

“Every player and every concussion is unique,” the NFL says in the introduction to the protocol rules. “Therefore, there is no set time frame for return to participation or for progression through the steps of the graduated exercise program outlined below. Recovery time varies from player to player.”

What is Tagovailoa’s injury history?

In 2022, he was diagnosed with two concussions, one while playing for Alabama.

There have been many other problems, including some at the university that were serious. In Alabama, he underwent surgery for a high ankle sprain in October 2019, missing one game. A month later, Tagovailoa dislocated his right hip against Mississippi State, ending his college career prematurely.

During his professional career, Tagovailoa suffered from rib fractures, a thumb injury, a broken middle finger on his throwing hand, and concussions.

In April 2023, he announced that he had discussed with his family whether it was wise to continue playing in the 2022 season after the two concussions.

What are players saying about Tagovailoa?

As expected, reactions have been mixed, although many former players who have since become analysts have advised him to take a good look at his long-term health and consider whether it is wise to continue playing football.

Former linebacker Manti Te’o, who has known Tagovailoa for years and calls him his “little brother,” said he hoped he would retire from the game after the concussion in Cincinnati in 2022. He said he’s thinking about his parents, what they went through Thursday night, and also about Tagovailoa’s ability to raise his own children in the long term.

“After he lost the game against the Bengals, I wanted him to run,” Te’o said on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” on Friday, and appeared to hold back tears after saying that. “What people need to understand is that this is just a game. And then there’s life.”

Former NFL Quarterback Added Robert Griffin III, on social media: “Think about the person, not just the player,” a sentiment shared by countless others.

And former receiver Dez Bryant was even more direct, saying it’s time for the league to step in. “That’s it… NFL go ahead and do the right thing,” Bryant posted. “Tua has had way too many concussions… He needs to retire due to his health issues.”

That position was later reiterated by Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce, who said he believes Tagovailoa should take care of his family and not risk further injury.

McDaniel made it clear Friday that he only wants Tagovailoa to recover and doesn’t want to be part of speculation about his future. Tagovailoa has signed a four-year, $212 million extension that begins with the 2025 season.

Have any players retired due to concussions?

There have been a number of cases where players have had to retire from football due to concerns about concussions. These have involved players who were at different stages of their careers and decided to retire.

— Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly is perhaps the most prominent example. He was 28 when he retired at the height of his game, a perennial All-Pro, but one who suffered three concussions over the course of three seasons. Among those concussions: one in one game in 2016 when he cried on the field. Since then he has been an advocate for awareness and safety.

— Frank Wycheck, the Tennessee Titans star who became famous for the lateral on the “Music City Miracle” play, left the game after 11 seasons due to “lingering effects” of “physical things,” including two concussions during the 2003 season. He retired after that season, said in a 2017 television interview that he was sure he had CTE, and died last December after a fall at his home.

— Jordan Reed was 30 when he retired in 2021 after seven seasons as a tight end for Washington and San Francisco, citing concussions. He said doctors advised him not to continue playing.

— Kylie Fitts was 27 when he retired in 2022. The former Arizona linebacker said at the time, “because of too many concussions … it is no longer safe for me to continue playing.”

— Chris Borland was only 24 when he retired after just one season in the NFL, citing concerns about a head injury.

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