Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa stretches off the field with head and neck injuries

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CINCINNATI (AP) — Miami Dolphins quarterback Toa Tagovailoa sustained neck and head injuries after being sacked in Thursday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals and was taken to the hospital for further evaluation.

The dolphins said Tagovailoa was conscious and had movement in all his limbs after being carried by a stretcher from the field. He was transferred to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Josh Topo chased down Tagovailoa and sacked him about six minutes before the break. It was rotated and thrown into the grass. While he was on the ground, his hands froze in front of his face. He remained in place for more than seven minutes before being loaded onto a backboard, settling into position on a stretcher after removing his face mask.

Dolphins gathered as Tagovailoa walked off the field and the crowd chanted “Twa! Just!

The team said the 24-year-old had been suffering from back pain and was listed as suspect most days of the week before the match.

Tagoviloa left Sunday’s short 21-19 win over the Buffalo Bills after looking disoriented over what the team originally said was a head injury after being hit by a heavy blow from Buffalo Bills midfielder Matt Milan late in the first half. He missed only three shots and came back after the first half, a decision that prompted the NFL and the NFL Players Association to jointly review what came in the decision to allow him back into the game.

The team and Tagovailoa said after the match that the midfielder suffered a back injury that caused him to stumble and fall after hitting the grass in the second quarter. The team said, Monday, that Tagovailoa did not enter into the concussion protocol.

Miami originally said it was a head injury, but Tagoviloa said after the game that he injured his back in the fall.

Before leaving Thursday’s game, Tagovailoa was 8 for 14 for 100 yards and an interception. He was replaced in the match by Teddy Bridgewater, who threw a touchdown pass to Chase Edmonds 15 seconds before halftime.