In a heart-stopping moment that silenced the roar of Thursday Night Football, Tua Tagovailoa‘s quest turned into a stark reminder of football’s inherent dangers. As the Miami Dolphins quarterback lay motionless on the field after a jarring collision with Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, the NFL community held its collective breath.

Among those watching in dismay was Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, whose swift reaction highlighted the brotherhood that transcends team rivalries in moments of crisis.

In a gut-wrenching moment late in the third quarter, Tagovailoa scrambled for a crucial first down against the Buffalo Bills. Eschewing caution, he lowered his shoulder and collided head-on with Bills’ safety, Damar Hamlin. The impact left Tagovailoa prone on the turf, unable to rise. Rival QB Mahomes sends out praying hands on X to show support for the injured QB.

This wasn’t the first time Mahomes had reached out to Tagovailoa during tough times. Cast your minds back to September 2022 and the day Tua suffered a devastating injury at home against Cincinnati. Even then, Mahomes took to Twitter to express his sympathy: “Prayers up man…”

The NFL is a land of all-consuming rivalry and competition. But there are moments like this one that show the human undercurrent that is prevalent beneath its surface. Mahomes, a perennial MVP contender as well as a Super Bowl winner, undoubtedly knows how delicate an NFL career can be. His gesture serves as a timely reminder that across the touchdowns and interceptions, these are human beings risking their health every Sunday.

Tua’s tackle reopens old wounds

The very last thing Tua Tagovailoa wanted was for anyone to think him prone to injury. Thursday’s game against the Bills has sent all those hopes spiraling back toward earth. The sight of Tua’s right arm showing the “fencing posture” sent shockwaves through the NFL community.

Chris Nowinski, Ph.D., a renowned concussion expert, didn’t mince words on social media: “Tua suffered a traumatic brain injury on this play, no question.” Nowinski’s assessment paints a grim picture, suggesting Tagovailoa “is done for the night and must miss the next game.” This stark reality is a far cry from the optimism that surrounded Tua after his stellar 2023 season, where he led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards and threw a career-high 29 touchdowns.

The timing couldn’t be worse for the Dolphins. Fresh off signing Tagovailoa to a whopping four-year, $212.4 million extension, the team now faces uncertainty about their franchise quarterback’s availability. It’s a cruel twist of fate for Tua, who had incorporated jiu-jitsu into his offseason training specifically to learn “how to fall and try to react throughout those positions that I’m getting thrown around in.”

As Skylar Thompson stepped in to replace the injured Tagovailoa, Dolphins fans were left to ponder a familiar, uncomfortable question: Can Tua stay healthy enough to lead this team to the glory land? The coming days will be crucial as the team, and indeed the entire NFL, watches and waits for updates on Tua’s condition. As JJ Watt succinctly put it on social media: “Oh no Tua.” Indeed, the sentiment echoes across the league, reminding us all the precarious nature of the sport we love.