While former NFL players and even a current head coach have questioned whether Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa should retire from football after being diagnosed with his third concussion in three years, his coach is focused on his player’s health for now.

Miami coach Mike McDaniel said Friday it would be “so, so wrong of me to even be fed up” with the topic of retirement, a day after his franchise quarterback had to be carried off the field in the third quarter of the Dolphins’ loss to the Buffalo Bills.

“Bringing up his future is not in his best interest,” McDaniel said. “I’m going to ask anyone who really cares to consider that last.”

“It’s probably only fair that they decide about their careers.”

Tagovailoa, 26, suffered the injury when he collided headfirst into the chest of Bills safety Damar Hamlin while attempting a first down. He was immediately removed from the game due to a concussion, meaning he will be placed in the league’s concussion protocol.

McDaniel acknowledged that he could not decide on the length of Tagovailoa’s rehab because he would need clearance from the Dolphins’ team doctor and an independent neurologist as part of a five-stage return to play.

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McDaniel said he couldn’t imagine Tagovailoa being back in Week 3 – Miami’s next game is a week away on Sunday – but did not say whether the quarterback would be placed on the injured list.

“The driving force behind any kind of movement, the absolute most important opinion and the most important person in all of this is Tua,” McDaniel said. “His opinion and what he wants to do with his life and his career, coupled with the experts in neuroscience, those are the driving forces behind these actions.”

Skylar Thompson, who replaced Tagovailoa for the remainder of Thursday’s loss, would likely step in as the starting quarterback. Miami has quarterback Tim Boyle on its practice squad, and McDaniel mentioned he would sign another player before the game against the Seattle Seahawks.

“I think it’s a fair assessment that you’ll have three quarterbacks on the roster for the next game,” he said.

But aside from the rest of the roster, McDaniel stressed throughout the entire deployment that his main goal is to nurse Tagavailoa back to health and well-being as a person before even considering when the best time would be for him to return to the field.

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McDaniel had only one message for his quarterback.

McDaniel said: “I just tell Tua, ‘Everyone is counting on you to become a father this weekend and we’ll see from there.'”

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(Photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)