Mike McDaniel had no additional clarity on the condition of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa during a Zoom call with reporters Friday morning, but the toll that Tagovailoa’s concussion was taking on McDaniel was clear to see.

In a photograph going viral, McDaniel planted a kiss on the side of Tagovailoa’s head as he came off the field during Thursday night’s 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

What did McDaniel say in that moment?

“I said he’s the starting quarterback of his family and to go in the locker room, take a deep breath, and I’ll see you soon,” McDaniel said.

McDaniel said he phoned Tagovailoa at about 9 a.m. Friday but Tagovailoa was still asleep. On the agenda for later in the day were medical evaluations to determine the severity of his latest concussion.

More: Tua Tagovailoa's best interests may not include taking another snap for Miami Dolphins | Habib

McDaniel said the Dolphins plan to bring in another quarterback, although he reiterated that he has “utmost confidence” in backup Skylar Thompson for however long Tagovailoa, 26, might be out. The Dolphins have not determined whether to place Tagovailoa on injured reserve, which would force him to miss at least four games, but McDaniel did say he doubted Tagovailoa would be available for Miami’s next game, Sept. 22 at Seattle.

Tagovailoa was injured while scrambling for a first down on a fourth-down opportunity late in the third quarter. Although he walked off under his own power, he quickly was declared out by doctors.

McDaniel said “it’s not in my DNA to think, ‘Hey, what does this mean?’ ” from a football standpoint and that in such an instance, “what’s most important is I have to put his health as the primary” concern.

Unsurprisingly given how close McDaniel and Tagovailoa are, McDaniel would not speculate the long-term implications of this concussion amid calls by some retired players urging Tagovailoa to retire.

“It would be so wrong for me to even sniff that subject,” McDaniel said.

He added, "If I were to answer that question, I'd be like, 'All right, this is my thoughts on his career,' and he read it. If he felt — if he agreed with it or he disagreed with it — I just made him worse. I don't think that's appropriate."

Instead, McDaniel said the only opinions that matter are Tagovailoa’s and his doctors’. Last year, Tagovailoa admitted that during the 2022 season when he suffered at least two concussions and possibly three, he discussed possible retirement with his family before concluding he loved the game too much to walk away.

“You’re talking about his career,” McDaniel said. “His career is his.”

Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at  hhabib@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @gunnerhal. Click here to subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tua Tagovailoa health is Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel primary concern