Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been rushed to hospital after suffering head and neck injuries in Thursday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Dolphins QB appeared seriously hurt in a scary incident after he was slung to the ground in a tackle from Josh Tupou with 5:46 remaining in the second quarter.
Tagovailoa seemed immediately dazed and awkwardly raised his hands with his fingers extended while on the ground.
There was a lengthy delay as medical staff attended to the 24-year-old who remained on his back on the ground with minimal movement before he was stretchered off the field. He was immediately taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital in Cincinnati.
The Dolphins confirmed he was out of the game with head and neck injuries and added: "Tagovailoa has been taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. He is conscious and has movement in all his extremities."
The incident comes after Tagovailoa was listed as "questionable" for the game due to back and ankle problems which limited his ability to practice this week.
Tagovailoa also took a heavy hit in last week's 21-19 win over the Buffalo Bills and stumbled to the ground in the aftermath, yet was cleared of concussion and permitted to play on.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel had insisted that the proper concussion protocols were followed and that the QB was cleared by the team and the independent neurologist.
Stroud concussed in Texans' loss to Jets
The Houston Texans' 30-6 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday came at a cost, as C.J. Stroud left with a concussion.
The rookie quarterback exited with 6:30 remaining in the fourth quarter when he was hit by Quinnen Williams and his head slammed to the turf hard.
Stroud has entered the NFL's concussion protocol and his status for Houston's game against the Tennessee Titans next Sunday is uncertain.
"We'll see how he progresses throughout the week," Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said.
Stroud, the No. 2 pick of this year's draft, came into Week 14 leading the league in passing yards with 3,540 but struggled mightily against a stingy Jets defense. He completed 10-of-23 passes for a season-low 91 yards while being sacked four times.
The Texans finished with a season-worst 135 total yards and converted just 1 of 12 third-down attempts in losing for the second time in three weeks following a three-game winning streak.
Davis Mills replaced Stroud and would likely get the start against the Titans if Stroud isn't cleared.
Tylan Wallace helps the Baltimore Ravens to victory over the Los Angeles Rams
Tylan Wallace returned an overtime punt for a touchdown to secure the Baltimore Ravens a stunning 37-31 win against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL.
The Ravens went top of the AFC standings with their 10th win of the season after Wallace returned the punt 76 yards for the game-winning score.
Baltimore had retaken the lead in a roller-coaster clash with one minute 16 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter through Lamar Jackson’s third touchdown pass of the game.
The Rams forced overtime with a Lucas Havrisik field goal, but Baltimore prevailed to move above the Miami Dolphins, who play on Monday night.
The Jacksonville Jaguars suffered a second successive defeat as Joe Flacco led Cleveland Browns to a 31-27 home win.
Veteran Flacco, the Super Bowl MVP in 2013 with the Ravens, threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns on his second appearance for the Browns.
Cleveland remained two games behind Baltimore in the AFC North, while the Cincinnati Bengals are just a game further back after quarterback Jake Browning shone in a 34-14 success against the Indianapolis Colts.
Back-up Browning, who has stepped in for the injured Joe Burrow, threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns and rushed in for another score to earn his side a second successive victory.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went top of the NFC South with a 29-25 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
Baker Mayfield led a 12-play, 75-yard drive which ended with him finding Cade Otton in the end zone for a game-winning touchdown with 31 seconds left.
Both teams sit on a record of 6-7 in the NFC South, as do the third-placed New Orleans Saints after they ended a three-match losing run by beating the struggling Carolina Panthers 28-6.
The New York Jets ended a five-match losing run by beating the Houston Texans 30-6.
Much-maligned Jets quarterback Zach Wilson threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns, while rookie of the year frontrunner CJ Stroud completed just 10 throws for 91 yards for the play-off chasing Texans before leaving the game with a head injury.
DJ Moore had both a receiving and a rushing touchdown – the first of his career – as the Chicago Bears stunned NFC North leaders the Detroit Lions 28-13.
Steelers star T.J. Watt placed in concussion protocol
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt was placed in concussion protocol after the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year reported symptoms on Friday.
Watt played 51 of Pittsburgh’s 57 defensive snaps in Thursday’s 21-18 loss to the New England Patriots.
The five-time Pro Bowler inadvertently had his facemask collide with Patriot running back Ezekiel Elliott’s knee in the first quarter, and Watt was evaluated briefly on the sideline before returning.
Watt’s 14 sacks this season trail only Khalil Mack of the Los Angeles Chargers, who has 15.
Alex Highsmith, who emerged as a standout edge-rushing complement to Watt with 14.5 sacks last season, missed most of Thursday’s game after going into concussion protocol in the first half.
Inside linebackers Kwon Alexander and Cole Holcomb are already out for the year.
Veteran Markus Golden and rookie Nick Herbig are projected to be the starting edge-rushing combination in next Saturday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts if Watt and Highsmith remain in protocol.
Watt is a three-time All-Pro selection with 91.5 sacks and 189 quarterback hits in 100 career games.
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