ESPN stars shift Tua Tagovailoa's health discussion into a debate on gender roles.

Over the past 24 months, Tua Tagovailoa, the Miami Dolphins quarterback, has faced a succession of concussions.

During the Dolphins' 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the first "Thursday Night Football" game of the regular season, Tagovailoa collided with Bills safety Damar Hamlin in the second half, resulting in the third concussion the quarterback has been diagnosed with since he entered the NFL.

Discussions about Tua Tagovailoa's recent injury have led to speculation about whether he should retire from football to prioritize his family and safeguard his long-term health.

During Friday's "First Take" on ESPN, Stephen A. Smith and Elle Duncan discussed Tua Tagovailoa's football future and the topic of sacrifice for family.

Smith discussed the mental makeup of men and argued that a man's mentality is often different from women's, while Qerim raised the question about whether Tagovailoa should end his NFL career during "First Take."

"Smith started by saying, "Molly and Elle, as men, our mentality often differs." He then added, "We are willing to take great risks to ensure the safety and security of our families for generations to come, even if we are no longer here.""

Smith employed an analogy to depict the personal sacrifices he has made in pursuit of his career.

"As a father, I make sacrifices all the time, including being away from my daughters and family more than I would like. Despite their resentment, I don't care because I grew up starving and understand the importance of ensuring my family's well-being. Football players make similar decisions every day, prioritizing providing and protecting their loved ones. This mindset plays a role in the kinds of decisions men make."

Duncan pointed out some of the sacrifices Smith has made for her family in response.

Duncan, a Black woman who has two scars from hip to hip due to two C-sections to provide for her family and create a family, understands the importance of sacrifice to protect and expand her family.

Duncan expressed the hope that Tagovailoa's loved ones would engage in a "real conversation with him."

"I urge anyone in Tua's circle who truly believes and loves him to have a real conversation with him about what quality of life means. We all face an existential crisis at some point in our lives."

Ryan Clark, a former NFL player, was part of the panel discussion and received Duncan's attention.

"The speaker mentioned that she hosts a podcast called "The Pivot" and that everyone must make a turn from the defining aspect of their lives at some point. She expressed hope that someone in the speaker's family, specifically someone in his corner, would encourage him to reflect deeply on whether he wants to continue with his current path."

In the third quarter of Thursday's game, Tagovailoa was attempting to gain enough yardage for a first down while running with the football. Instead of sliding, he decided to lower his shoulder as Hamlin approached. As a result, Tagovailoa stayed on the turf for a few minutes, requiring medical attention. Eventually, he was able to walk to the Dolphins sideline.

While the Dolphins plan to add another quarterback to the roster, their head coach, Mike McDaniel, emphasized that Tagovailoa's health is their top priority.

Skylar Thompson is expected to replace the starting quarterback for Miami's game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 22, with McDaniel expressing confidence in the team and organization's decision.

McDaniel stated that the team has not yet decided whether to place Tagovailoa on the injured reserve list. The quarterback will undergo additional evaluation in Miami on Friday.

Subscribe to the Planet Chronicle Sports Huddle newsletter and follow Planet Chronicle Digital's sports coverage on X.