Tua Tagovailoa concussion timeline: Dolphins QB exits game against Bills with head injury

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa exited Thursday's NFL matchup between the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills after taking a scary hit to the head in the third quarter.

Tagovailoa, in his fifth season with the Dolphins, scrambled for a first down on fourth-and-four late in the third quarter, and his helmet struck into the shoulder pads of Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin. Tagovailoa lay on the ground for multiple moments before exiting the game under his own power and heading to the locker room.

REQUIRED READING: Tua Tagovailoa has a history of concussions. Is Miami Dolphins quarterback injury prone?

At the time of the injury, Miami trailed Buffalo 31-10, as Tagovailoa struggled to a 17 of 25 passing night with 145 yards and a touchdown with three interceptions, one of which was a pick-six in the third quarter.

Tagovailoa signed a four-year contract extension worth $212.4 million in the offseason and has suffered a multitude of head injuries in his career.

Here's everything to know about Tagovailoa's injury, including his concussion timeline:

REQUIRED READING: Tua Tagovailoa suffers concussion in Miami Dolphins' game vs. Buffalo Bills

How many concussions has Tua Tagovailoa had? Injury timeline

This section was updated to add ESPN's report of Tagovailoa's concussion in 2019, which was previously not known.

Tagovailoa, who suffered a head injury on "Thursday Night Football" against the Bills, has now sustained three concussions throughout his NFL career, with Thursday's injury being the third.

Tagovailoa's first confirmed NFL concussion was during the 2022 season, during a scary moment on "Thursday Night Football" against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4. The play was the subject of controversy, as Tagovailoa four days prior fell hard onto the turf against the Bills, which was originally deemed a head injury but later determined to be a back ailment. Tagovailoa returned to the game against the Bills in Week 3.

The moment resulted in the NFLPA firing the independent neurologist who participated in the clearing of Tagovailoa to re-enter the game in the second half of the Week 3 game.

Tagovailoa then suffered another concussion in Week 16 against the Green Bay Packers, which led to him missing the final two games of the season, including a playoff game. Tagovailoa returned to the game against the Packers in the second half, tossing three interceptions. The concussion was only ruled as such after the game.

ESPN reported Thursday night that Tagovailoa also suffered a concussion in 2019 as a senior at Alabama, which came on the same play as his hip injury that ended his season prematurely. The reveal now means Tagovailoa has had four concussions in the last five years.

Tagovailoa injury update

Tagovailoa exited Thursday's game against the Buffalo Bills with a head injury, and it was reported by the Amazon Prime broadcast that he won't return to the game. The Dolphins later ruled Tagovailoa suffered a concussion.

Tagovailoa took a hard hit to the head after scrambling for a first down on fourth-and-four. He lay on the ground for multiple moments before exiting the game under his own power and heading to the locker room without his helmet.

Tua Tagovailoa official concussion total

Tagovailoa has suffered three concussions in his career, two of which came during the 2022 season with the third happening on Thursday night against the Buffalo Bills.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tua Tagovailoa concussion timeline: Details of Miami QB injury history