Sports
Neuroscientist, former wrestler Chris Nowinski concludes Tua Tagovailoa 'suffered traumatic brain injury'
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has dealt with a series of concussions over the past 24 months.
The latest head injury happened during the Dolphins’ 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the first “Thursday Night Football” game of the season. Tagovailoa collided with Bills safety Damar Hamlin in the second half, resulting in the third confirmed concussion the quarterback has been diagnosed with since he entered the NFL.
Thursday’s health scare again sparked debate about whether the 26-year-old quarterback should step away from football.
Neuroscientist Chris Nowinski, a former professional wrestler who also played college football at Harvard, weighed in on Tagovailoa’s situation.
Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium Sept. 12, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
“Tua suffered a traumatic brain injury on this play, no question,” Nowinski wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “His right arm shows the “fencing posture” indicating loss of consciousness & is on the severe end on the #concussion spectrum. He is done for the night and must miss the next game.”
DOLPHINS’ TUA TAGOVAILOA FACES CALLS TO RETIRE FROM NFL AFTER LATEST CONCUSSION: ‘IT’S NOT WORTH IT’
Nowinski last competed in WWE in 2003 under the name Chris Harvard. Since stepping away from professional competition, Nowinski has become one of the more prominent voices for concussion awareness.
He also holds a Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience from Boston University.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) is assisted on the field during the second half of a game against the Buffalo Bills Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Elsewhere, former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant called on Tagovailoa to retire from the NFL, citing “his longevity” and “health concerns.”
Other former players chimed in, including three-time Super Bowl winner Shannon Sharpe.
“Really hope Tua is ok, but he’s gotta seriously think about shutting it dwn. I H8 saying this. His concussions are getting worse and worse and he’s a young man with his entire life ahead of him,” Sharpe wrote in a social media post.
Nowinski stopped short of calling on Tagovailoa to end his football career. He instead highlighted the importance of the quarterback’s recovery from his most recent head injury.
“There is no magic number of concussions to require retirement,” he said. “It all depends on how he recovers from this one, but having too many concussions can lead to chronic symptoms and mental health disorders. He’s in a very tough spot.”
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) walks off the field with training staff after an apparent injury during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., Sept. 12, 2024. (Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images)
Nowinski also pointed to the predicament a doctor could end up with by advising Tagovailoa to call it quits.
“Here is a difficult truth,” said Nowinski. “Doctors who advise star athletes to retire – in the absence of symptoms lasting >1 year, brain bleeds or gross MRI changes – can get blacklisted. Many docs may advise Tua to retire based on his frequent concussions alone. Tua may not see those doctors.”
Tagovailoa was running with the football seeking a first down in the third quarter of Thursday’s game and lowered his shoulder instead of sliding as Hamlin approached. The 26-year-old signal-caller stayed on the turf for a few minutes as medical personnel attended to him. Tagovailoa was eventually able to walk to the Dolphins’ sideline.
The Dolphins plan to add another quarterback to their roster while Tagovailoa works through his latest concussion. However, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel made it clear Tagovailoa’s health was everyone’s primary focus.
Backup quarterback Skylar Thompson will likely step into the starting role for Miami’s game against the Seattle Seahawks Sept. 22.
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If the Super Bowl marks the end of the NFL season, WrestleMania is when WWE’s year is over.
There is no offseason in WWE, and when waves of departures hit the company, it hits harder than a Gunther knife-edge chop.
Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Nikki Cross appear during SmackDown at First Horizon Center in Savannah, Ga., on May 23, 2025. (Rich Freeda/WWE)
Fightful and BodySlam both reported several superstars who left WWE on Friday ahead of “Friday Night SmackDown.” Some wrestlers confirmed their departures on social media.
Those who left included: Alba Fyre, Aleister Black, Alex Shelley, Andre Chase, Apollo Crews, Bo Dallas, Chris Island, Chris Sabin, Dante Chen, Dexter Lumis, Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy, Kairi Sane, Luca Crusifino, Malik Blade, Nikki Cross, Santos Escobar, Sirena Linton, Trill London, Tyra Mae Steele, Tyriek Igwe, Tyson Dupont, Zelina Vegas and Zoey Stark.
The WWE roster is loaded as it is with several NXT stars getting called up this week.
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Sol Ruca made her presence felt on Raw on Monday when she challenged women’s champion Liv Morgan. The Fatal Influence faction of Jacy Jayne, Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley took aim at the women’s tag team division on SmackDown on Friday. Ricky Saints and Blake Monroe also had vignettes for their upcoming appearances.
Meanwhile, former NXT champion Oba Femi has been on main WWE programming for the last few weeks and beat Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42.
Kairi Sane enters the ring during Monday Night RAW at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on April 13, 2026. (Rich Freeda/WWE)
Aleister Black and Zelina Vega make their way to the ring during SmackDown at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 3, 2026. (Craig Melvin/WWE)
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It’s not the end of the road for any of the recent departures. Several former WWE stars have made waves elsewhere. Some have even returned over the course of time.
Pitching coach Gus Rico was having dinner on Thursday when head coach Matt Mowry of Birmingham High complimented him on closer Aidan Martinez recording all seven of his outs on strikeouts.
“I had no idea,” Rico said. “Everything is a blur when I’m calling pitches.”
Martinez is throwing some blurs these days after returning this season following Tommy John surgery in June 2024. He touched 92 mph with his fastball and has been improving each week, getting better command and walking fewer batters. He has 28 strikeouts in 15 innings and three saves.
Birmingham is one game behind El Camino Real in the West Valley League standings going into showdown week, playing El Camino Real on Wednesday at on the road and Friday at home. The Patriots need a sweep to have a chance at their first league title under Mowry, who prefers winning City titles.
With Martinez throwing so well, it would be a good strategy for opposing teams to make sure they are leading going into the last two innings.
“He’s got a bright future,” Rico said.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
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Earlier this month, Michigan defeated UConn in the NCAA men’s basketball national championship game.
Shortly after the Wolverines captured the program’s first title since 1989, Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. announced he would enter the NBA Draft.
Despite declaring for the NBA Draft, Johnson has maintained his NCAA eligibility throughout the process. However, he has until May 27 to withdraw if he plans to return for his junior season.
Johnson played for Illinois during the 2024-25 season before transferring to Michigan last offseason.
Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr. walks on the court against UConn at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis April 6, 2026. (Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated)
After joining Michigan, Johnson quickly emerged as a key contributor, averaging the second-most points on the team. He also led the Wolverines in rebounding, averaging 7.3 per game.
Michigan head coach Dusty May eventually dubbed Johnson “The Enforcer” and “Junkyard Dog,” a nod to his tenacity on the defensive end. Johnson was named to the Big Ten’s All-Defensive Team.
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But Johnson’s offensive prowess didn’t take a back seat to his defensive strengths. His shooting from beyond the 3-point line showed improvement as the season progressed.
Morez Johnson Jr. of the Michigan Wolverines cuts down the net after defeating the UConn Huskies 69-63 in the 2026 NCAA national championship game in Indianapolis April 6, 2026. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Many early NBA projections gave Johnson a first-round grade. It’s unclear how much name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation he would command if he returns to Michigan or transfers elsewhere.
Johnson has been active on social media, interacting with teammates as they consider returning to Michigan for another championship push.
Morez Johnson Jr. of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after scoring in the second half against the UConn Huskies during the 2026 NCAA national championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis April 6, 2026. (Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
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Michigan added a key piece this week, with Jalen Reed transferring from LSU, On3 reported. Reed was limited during the 2025-26 season by an Achilles injury.
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