Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert raised eyebrows with comments made about quarterback Tua Tagovailoa entering the NFL’s concussion protocol following Sunday’s loss to the Packers. 

“I was shocked,” Mostert remarked about the situation Wednesday, as shared by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. “I totally didn’t realize that Tua went through that. But it also kind of made sense towards the end of the game. You know, I was asking myself in the huddle, like, ‘What are we doing? What’s going on?’ Not specifically him, but the whole aura of the offense in the huddle.” 

Tagovailoa threw interceptions on the Dolphins’ final three possessions in the 26-20 loss that dropped Miami to 8-7.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed Monday that Tagovailoa later entered the protocol for the second time this season, while NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills told NFL Media’s Judy Battista on Tuesday the 24-year-old displayed no symptoms “that would have triggered the (league’s concussion) protocol” during the Christmas Day encounter. 

ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted that Tagovailoa initially suffered his latest head-related injury in the second quarter of Sunday’s contest. Florio pointed out that former player and current analyst Chris Simms said during Thursday’s edition of the “PFT Live” program that “film from the game shows one or more teammates hurrying over to Tua after the moment when his head hit the ground” on the play tweeted by Schefter on Monday. 

For the second time since early fall, the NFL Players Association is looking into Miami’s handling of the concussion protocol regarding Tagovailoa. The NFL and NFLPA made modifications to the protocol following that first investigation. 

Backup Teddy Bridgewater is expected to start over Tagovailoa when the Dolphins play at the 7-8 New England Patriots on Sunday. Miami can clinch a playoff berth with a victory coupled with the 7-8 New York Jets suffering a loss or tie at the 7-8 Seattle Seahawks that same afternoon.