• Loading stock data...
Friday, July 11, 2025

Amazon Blasted For Tua Tagovailoa Concussion Coverage

  • Amazon questioned for coverage of Tua Tagovailoa injury on ‘Thursday Night Football.’
  • Other networks called meetings to ask themselves: How would we have covered it?
Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports

“Thank God it wasn’t us.”

That was the reaction from one of the NFL’s network TV partners to the criticism received by Amazon Prime Video for its coverage of Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion Thursday night. 

Besides natural sympathy for the fallen Miami Dolphins quarterback, many critics ripped Amazon’s coverage from the moment Tagovailoa was stretchered off the field with head/neck injuries in the second quarter of the Cincinnati Bengals’ 27-15 win over the Dolphins. 

Some complained Amazon lingered on the injury too long — particularly the disturbing replay of the QB’s hands twisting. 

Others complained Amazon’s halftime studio show failed to mention the QB had been tested for a concussion only four days before. Or that the NFLPA had requested an investigation of how the Dolphins handled the back injury he had suffered against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.   

“I understand they were trying to take a serious tone, but to focus on the news that ‘he has movement in his extremities’ and not have any critical discussion about what happened to Tua on Sunday is a very bad look for Amazon and that halftime crew,” tweeted Lindsay Jones of The Ringer.

Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk called out Amazon analyst Richard Sherman in particular. 

“As an active player, Richard Sherman was one of the most vocal critics of Thursday Night Football, arguing that it was dangerous for players to play with so little time off between games,” he tweeted. “Now he cashes a paycheck on Thursday Night Football and ignores the issue after Tua’s injury.”

To be fair to Amazon, lead game analyst Kirk Herbstreit did cite Tua’s injury from four days prior.

“Worth mentioning, a very similar sack— or push— from (Matt) Milano, the Buffalo lineman, when he hit his head [during] the game last week,” noted Herbstreit before the QB was carted off the field.

One reason why Amazon went to the replay, said sources, was to illustrate the diagnosis of medical expert Mike Ryan that Tagovailoa’s hand “fencing” indicated head trauma.

During the halftime show, Amazon host Charissa Thompson asked for analyst reaction “given everything we saw last week.” Viewers were moved by analyst Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was close to tears discussing his former Dolphins teammate.

During the postgame show, Smith also went deep on the prior injury, protocol, and the NFLPA’s call for an investigation. “I think there’s room for both concern for Tua — and frustration and outrage,” Smith said.

Still, when it comes to covering the dark side of football, networks usually decide that discretion is the better part of valor, warned Dan Diamond of the Washington Post.

“And for those asking why Amazon’s halftime show didn’t acknowledge the controversy over Tua’s apparent head injury on Sunday — media partners that have tried to talk about concussions have faced brushback from the league,” he tweeted. “Just ask Bob Costas.” 

There’s an unwritten rule that NFL TV partners don’t publicly second-guess each other. But ESPN’s Cris Canty went there on Friday morning.

“I don’t think that it’s a coincidence that the company that was doing the broadcast last night failed to mention during the halftime report the incident that happened with Tua the week prior with the Buffalo Bills,” Canty said on the “Get Up” morning show. “So all of this is being driven by money…The NFL is all about protecting its own interest.”

Front Office Sports checked in with several NFL broadcasters for their reaction on Friday. 

They said every NFL TV partner from ESPN and Fox Sport to CBS Sports and NBC Sports is likely calling a production meeting today to ask themselves: 

  • How would we have covered Tagovailoa’s injury?
  • What would we show viewers — and how many times would we show it? 
  • Did Amazon do something wrong that we can do right? 

It’s a tricky business challenge for networks that are, ultimately, multibillion-dollar partners with the NFL. 

They’re supposed to narrate and analyze the game action. But they also can’t risk offending the NFL suits on Park Avenue who decide which networks get the best game matchups.

As media companies, they’re there to document the football game. But they can’t linger too long on the serious injuries produced by a high-speed collision sport that’s been likened to a car wreck on every play.

“It a no-win situation,” said one TV executive.

The worst nightmare for the NFL and TV networks is a player dying on the field. Today’s NFL players are so big and so fast, that kind of tragedy can never be completely ruled out. 

Who knows? The criticism leveled at Amazon could end up subtly changing the way networks cover similar injuries. 

During Friday’s “Get Up,” host Mike Greenberg made a point of mentioning his show would replay the injury once — and only once. 

On their own volition, NFL TV networks already cut away if there’s a fan running on the field or some other incident they don’t want viewers to see. 

Like Greenberg, it wouldn’t be surprising if networks increasingly edit how they cover and replay on-field injuries. And make sure that their analysts and reporters add the kind of context that Amazon’s Herbstreit, Smith and sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung provided Thursday night.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell during the NFLPA press conference at the Super Bowl LIX media center at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

NFLPA Head Has Side Hustle With PE Firm That Can Invest in..

The NFLPA’s executive director is embroiled in multiple controversies.
Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.

Featured Today

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”
June 29, 2025

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.
Seattle Rough & Tumble
June 28, 2025

Women’s Sports Bars Are on the Rise. Survival Isn’t Guaranteed

Some women’s sports bars are cashing in. Others are clawing for funding.
Jul 10, 2025; Wimbledon, United Kingdom; Iga Swiatek of Poland at her on court interview after winning her match against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland on day 11 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

Wimbledon Set to Deliver Strong Finals Matchup for ESPN

Novak Djokovic is still in the hunt for his 25th Grand Slam.
Feb 7, 2025; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies center Tarris Reed Jr. (5) reacts after his basket against the St. John's Red Storm in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
July 8, 2025

After Decade Apart, ESPN and Big East Rekindle Media Rights Relationship

After a decade-plus apart, the network will stream hundreds of conference events.
Paige Bueckers
exclusive
July 8, 2025

Women’s March Madness Expansion Wouldn’t Yield More ESPN Money

ESPN is not required to pay extra if women’s March Madness expands.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Jul 6, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Mexico forward Marcel Ruiz (14) heads the ball in front of United States midfielder Brenden Aaronson (11) in the second half during the 2025 Gold Cup Final at NRG Stadium.
July 7, 2025

USMNT Struggles Still Produce Big Gold Cup Ratings for Fox

The U.S. team’s recent issues culminated in a loss to Mexico.
July 2, 2025

Paramount Settles Trump Suit Ahead of NFL Season, Skydance Merger

The deal likely allows the much larger Skydance merger deal to proceed.
Leo Messi
June 27, 2025

TNT, Club World Cup Ride Messi to Surprisingly Solid Debut Ratings

TNT Sports carries about a third of matches in the U.S.
June 24, 2025

Fever vs. Aces Draws 5th-Largest TV Audience of 2025 WNBA Season

ESPN will carry seven more Indiana Fever games this year.