“You Don’t Want to Be a Pasta”

Whether they like it or not, Tennessee Titans players can’t help but reflect on the terrifying situation Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa finds himself in.

The Titans (0-3) visit the Dolphins (1-2) at Hard Rock Stadium this week for “Monday Night Football” (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Dolphins will be without Tagovailoa, the current NFL leader who is recovering from his fourth concussion in the last five years. That includes three in his NFL career.

His most recent loss, which he suffered in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills, resulted in him being placed on injured reserve and sparked discussion and speculation in both the media and fans as to whether Tagovailoa should consider retirement.

“It’s something we don’t like to think about as players, but it’s the reality of this game,” Titans quarterback Will Levis said. “It’s easy to pretend this isn’t something that has potential for any of us.”

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In 2023, 219 concussions were reported in the NFL. This is a 22% decrease from the record number recorded in 2017, but an upward trend compared to the 172 reported in 2020 and 187 reported in 2021. It is unknown given the constant number of collisions in football and the way how the diagnosis of concussion is based on symptoms noticed by third parties or reported by players, how many concussions occur but are not diagnosed.

Like all NFL locker rooms, the Titans’ roster is full of players who have dealt with concussions in the past. Winger Treylon Burks has missed five games over the past two years with two concussions, including three games last season after he had to be stretchered off the field after suffering a helmet-to-helmet hit in Pittsburgh.

Titans backup quarterback Mason Rudolph was knocked unconscious after a head-on collision in a 2019 game against Baltimore. Linebacker Luke Gifford suffered a concussion in the first game of the 2024 preseason, ironically suffering the injury during a dynamic opening play that was specifically designed to reduce injury.

This season, tight end Josh Whyle became the first Titans player to wear the Guardian cap – essentially a soft shell outer covering that adds another layer of cushion to the helmet – during games as a preventive measure after he was diagnosed with one concussion in 2023 and next in the 2024 preseason.

Tagovailoa’s situation resonates with all of these players. Coming back from a concussion isn’t as simple as waiting for your brain to heal.

“You basically lose your mind for as long as you’re out of the game,” Burks said. “It’s hard to explain until you have it.”

“It was hard to come back,” Rudolph added. “I tried to come back two weeks later. It only takes a minute to feel comfortable on the pitch. Not at all (I don’t regret it); I thought it was more about self-confidence. You missed a few weeks. You almost had a bit of post-traumatic stress. I felt fine and was cleared by the best specialists in Pittsburgh. You’re just a little shaken up by the situation mentally. “

Doctors explained to Rudolph after his concussion that loss of consciousness usually had nothing to do with the severity of the injury. The difference, Rudolph says, is optics. Everyone remembers the image of the unconscious player surrounded by medical staff.

So 22 days later, when he returned for the first time, coincidentally for a “Monday Night Football” game against Miami, he was a little nervous. He admits it took him a few rides before he calmed down and felt like himself.

The recurring nature of Tagovailoa’s situation further complicates an already complicated puzzle for players. Levis says the more carefully someone plays, the greater the risk of getting injured. Gifford and Burks say surviving as a pro isn’t as simple as scheduling a certain number of concussions before calling it a career.

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“It’s not a situation I want to be in, I know that,” Gifford said.

The unfortunate reality, however, is that these are the players’ situations Down find yourself.

“I have a family to take care of,” Burks said. “But eventually there comes a point where if you really have too much of it, you finally have to start thinking about yourself and your well-being. In ten to twenty years you don’t want to be a pasta. I have to keep that in mind as well.”

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at [email protected]. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @nicksuss.