Tagovailoa goes on IR, out at least four games
The Miami Dolphins placed Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve Tuesday after the quarterback was diagnosed with his third concussion in two years.
Tagovailoa will be sidelined at least four games and be eligible to return in Week 8 against Arizona, but first has to complete tests and assessments required by the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Tagovailoa was hurt last Thursday when he collided with Buffalo defensive back Damar Hamlin on a run and hit his head on the turf. Backup Skylar Thompson will start Sunday at Seattle. He made two starts as a rookie in 2022, came out of the first one because of an injury, won the second one and didn’t throw a touchdown pass or an interception in either game.
Also going on IR: Indianapolis’ three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, DeForest
Buckner (ankle), Green Bay rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd (ankle) and New York Giants kicker Graham Gano (hamstring). The Giants signed kicker Greg Joseph off Detroit’s practice squad. With Kansas City running back Isiah Pacheco expected to go on IR after sustaining an ankle injury that could keep him out the rest of the season, the Chiefs are signing Kareem Hunt to their practice squad, according to the Associated Press, reuniting with the running back who was a Pro Bowl player with them.
Fields likely to start against Chargers
Justin Fields likely will
make his third straight start at quarterback when the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Chargers on Sunday.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Fields would practice with the starters this week while Russell Wilson continues to rehab a calf injury he aggravated ahead of the opener. Tomlin said there has been no change in Wilson’s status and declined to answer questions on whether Fields has supplanted Wilson as the full-time starter.
Cousins rallies Falcons past Eagles
Kirk Cousins, returning from a torn Achilles tendon, bounced back from a shaky effort in Atlanta’s opener and a slow start Monday night at Philadelphia to make all the clutch throws that his Eagles counterpart, Jalen Hurts, could not. Cousins led a flawless lastminute drive and connected with Drake London for a seven-yard touchdown with 34 seconds left to give the Falcons a 22-21 victory.
“That’s how you put together a great season,” Cousins said. “When you have these games that could go either way, you find a way to have it break your way.” Saquon Barkley dropped a short pass to stop the clock with 1:46 left and force the Eagles to settle for a field goal instead of a game-sealing first down. That was plenty of time for Cousins, who was five for six for 70 yards on the final drive, including completions to Darnell Mooney for 21 and 26 yards on consecutive plays. Cousins found London on a short pass to his right and London torched Darius Slay for the tying score before Younghoe Koo put Atlanta on top with a 48yard extra point.
“We saved just enough time for those guys to go down and march down and get that game-winning touchdown,” coach Raheem Morris said.
Hurts had his final pass intercepted by Jessie Bates III and finished 23 for 30 for 183 yards and a touchdown and gave the Eagles a late lead with a one-yard, tushpush touchdown. Cousins was 20 of 29 for 241 yards and two touchdowns.