Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol and will play against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. It’s his first start since being concussed in Week 2.

Tagovailoa spent about a month on injured reserve after suffering his third concussion of his NFL career on Sept. 12.

He needed to clear the NFL’s five-step return-to-play process, which came after he participated in practices and took contact without exhibiting concussion symptoms.

Tagovailoa was con- cussed when he collided with Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin, He ran for a first down and initiated contact by lowering his shoulder into Hamlin instead of sliding. Tagovailoa said Monday that he has been symptom-free since a day after being diagnosed with the concussion.

Jayden Daniels is ex- pected to be a game-time decision for the Washington Commanders when they host the Chicago Bears on Sunday because of a rib injury after practicing Friday and keeping the possibility alive of him facing Caleb Williams in a matchup of rookie quarterbacks taken atop the 2024 NFL draft.

Daniels practiced in a limited capacity after sitting out Wednesday and Thursday. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner and AP Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite was injured early in a 40-7 rout of Carolina last weekend.

Daniels has thrown for 1,410 yards, ran for 372 and been responsible for 10 touchdowns through five-plus games.

Minnesota Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw will have season-ending surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left knee, a devastating development for a team that was undefeated a week ago but has since endured a series of setbacks.o the

Darrisaw tore his ACL and MCL during Thursday night’s loss to the Rams.

HORSE RACING

The Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar is still a week away but the event is already down two probable favorites.

Idiomatic, the defending champion in the $2 million Distaff, was retired early Friday after she was “found to be lame,” according to a post on the website of her owner, Juddmonte Farm.

Hours later, Daily Racing Form reported National Treasure would not be entered in the $1 million Dirt Mile, a race in which he finished second last year. Trainer Bob Baffert told the Racing Form that last year’s Preakness Stakes winner has been dealing with foot issues since his last start four weeks ago and would not be ready in time for next Saturday’s Dirt Mile.

National Treasure has four wins in 15 lifetime starts including two major races this year, the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in January and the Metropolitan Handicap in June at Saratoga. The 4-year-old has earned nearly $5.6 million.

The retirement of Idiomatic cost the Breeders’ Cup one of its most anticipated showdowns, with the 5-year-old mare expected to be tested by the 3-year-old Thorpedo Anna, who won the Kentucky Oaks and was second against males in the Travers.

Idiomatic, a daughter of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, retires with 12 wins, three seconds and two thirds in 17 starts. Trained by Brad Cox, she earned more than $3.9 million.

Thorpedo Anna is now expected to be a strong favorite in the Distaff.

— Jay Posner

GOLF

Nico Echavarria shot a 6-under 64 — matching his 64 on Thursday — to lead by two shots over Taylor Moore and Justin Thomas after the second round of the Zozo Championship in Inzai City, Japan.

Thomas shot 64 and Moore carded 67 with three others just three shots off the lead at the Narashino Country Club.

“I’ve never had a lead after 36 holes,” said Echavarria, a Colombian who played at the University of Arkansas. His lone PGA win was last year in Puerto Rico.

TENNIS

Ben Shelton knocked out top-seeded Andrey Rublev in the Swiss Indoors quarterfinals in Basel, Switzerland in his first matchup with the Russian.

Shelton won 7-5, 6-7 (3), 6-4, saving the six break points he faced, and converting the only two he forced.

He’s reached his fifth semifinal from nine quarters this year.

The American will face Arthur Fils of France, whom he lost to last month in the Tokyo quarterfinals.

Fils defeated third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (5), 6-3.

SOCCER

Austin FC hired former Dallas head coach and United States national team assistant Nico Estevez to revive the club after missing the Major League Soccer playoffs for the second consecutive season.

Estevez led Dallas to the MLS playoffs in 2022 and 2023 but was fired in June after a 3-8-5 start to this season. The club finished in 11th in the Western Conference, one spot below Austin.

Estevez, who is from Spain, replaces Josh Wolff, who had been the only head coach in Austin franchise history. Austin began play in the 2021 season, then advanced to the Western Conference final in 2022 before missing the playoffs the last two years. Wolff was fired on Oct. 6 with one game left in the regular season.

Estevez was an assistant with the U.S. national team from 2019-21 and had recently U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino’s staff this past summer.