Dolphins coach defends handling of QB
Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Friday thereis no timetable for the return of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who suffered a concussion when he hit his head against the turf a day earlier against the Cincinnati Bengals.
McDaniel also defended the team’s handling of Tagovailoa’s injury last Sunday in a win over the Buffalo Bills, when the QB took a hit from linebacker Matt Milano late in the first half and appeared to hit his head on the turf. Tagovailoa stumbled whenhe got up and was taken tothe locker room to be evaluated for a concussion, then returned to the game at the start ofthe third quarter.
McDaniel reiterated Friday that Tagovailoa was cleared by several layers of medical professionals during last Sunday’s game and said the QB did not have a head injury.
“Myjob as a coach is here forthe players. I take that very serious, ”the first-year coach said. “And no one else in the building strays from that.”
Many observers questioned why Tagovailoa was allowed to return to the field againstthe Bills. He was not in the concussion protocol leading up to Thursday’s game.
More pro football
Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen will miss a third game due to hamstring injury, while rookie Jamaree Salyer will start at left tackle after Rashawn Slater suffered aseason-ending biceps injury. Justin Herbert participated fullyin Thursday and Friday’ s practices after giving ita go only one day last week. Heis day to day for Sunday’s game.
•The Detroit Lions have racked up 1,227 yards of offense through three games. On Sunday, they’re going to be without two players responsible for nearly half that production, ruling out wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and running back D’Andre Swift.
•Saints backup quarterback Andy Dalton is preparing to square off with Kirk Cousinsand Minnesota in London. Dalton is expected to start after Jameis Winston was listed as doubtful for New Orleans.
Pro basketball
Breanna Stewart and the United States used a dominant defensive effort to beat Canadaand reach the gold medal game of the World Cup forthe fourth consecutive tournament. Stewart scored 17points and the Americans putaway Canada, 83-43.
•Veteran big man Blake Griffin has agreed to a contractwith Boston. Griffin, 33, should help the Celtics weather the absence of center Robert Williams III, who is expected to miss 8-12 weeks after knee surgery.
Golf
Mackenzie Hughes used his putting, the strength of his game ,to carry him to a 9-under63 and a share of the lead inthe Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Miss. Hughes birdied his final twoholes to catch Thomas Detry of Belgium, who had a second67. They were at 10-under134, one shot ahead of Sepp Straka(66).
•Charley Hull had eight birdies in her round of 7-under64 to take the 36-hole lead in The Ascendant LPGA in The Colony, Texas. Hull seized control with four birdies in a six-hole stretch around the turn and led by two shots on Xiyu “Janet” Lin (68) and Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand.
•English golfer Richard Mansell stood up to bad weather to shoot a stunning 4under68 on the Old Course and open a two-shot lead halfway through the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in St. Andrews, Scotland.
Hockey
The Tampa Bay Lightning and team owner Jeff Vinik are donating$2 million toward Hurricane Ian relief efforts. The NHL team announced that$1 million each will be donated by the Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation and the Vinik Family Foundation.