re: Would Tua even be able to play next year?

It's to ask for privacy and get on top of the media so he can go about his rehab and healing without hundreds of media persons or people disrupting his daily routine. All speculation will be answered at the appropriate time.
He's undergoing a difficult time and an arduous road to recovery. Thus it's a good idea to answer questions while making a blanket statement as to the future and the current needs of him a d his family.