2:38 PM PT -- In his first public comments since suffering the scary head injury, Tagovailoa said in a statement Friday afternoon he's "feeling much better."
The quarterback thanked his fans, friends and family for their prayers and support while he was in the hospital ... and added that he's now "focused on recovering so I can get back out on the field with my teammates."
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel fought back tears as he discussed Tua Tagovailoa's injury ... saying, "I'm just really, really glad that I can hear normal Tua in his voice."
McDaniel was clearly emotional as he spoke with reporters on Friday ... saying watching one of his players get carted off the field will "never feel normal."
"It's something you never want to be a part of, and when I put myself there, this is what happens. It's not fun."
Very scary as Tua Tagavailoa goes down after a sack, looks like it may have been the second concussion in 4 days. Really not good. pic.twitter.com/2u0Leb69O5
— Dr. Lös Real Polyamorous Tantric Sex Guru (@LosRealAli) September 30, 2022
Coach said Tua's teammates were excited to see him on the plane after the game ... and happy to see that his personality was "normal."
Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa Returns Home After Suffering Head Injury, 'In Good Spirits'
McDaniel says he talked to Tua on Friday morning ... and said the QB was still feeling headache symptoms. The team is now waiting on the results of Tagovailoa's MRI.
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh also weighed in on Tua's injury ... saying he was shocked the QB was even on the field, to begin with.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh on Tua/concussions:
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 30, 2022
"I couldn't believe what I saw last night"
🎥: @ByKimberleyA pic.twitter.com/Zb28hD73Kv
"I couldn't believe what I saw last night," Harbaugh told reporters. "I couldn't believe what I saw last Sunday. It's just something that was astonishing to see after coaching for 40 years -- college and the NFL -- well, almost 40 years."
"I've never seen anything like it before. It just was really something that I really just couldn't believe what I was seeing."
Originally Published -- 12:00 PM PT