Thomas Davis Injury: Updates on Panthers LB's Arm and Return

Alec NathanJan 24, 2016

Carolina Panthers star linebacker Thomas Davis suffered a broken arm in the first half of the NFC Championship Game and did not return. The linebacker needed surgery, but he will not miss Super Bowl 50.

Continue for updates.

Davis Active vs. Broncos

Sunday, Feb. 7

The Panthers confirmed Davis is available to play versus Denver.

Panthers Trainer Comments on Davis' Recovery

Sunday, Feb. 7

"First off, to be able to do what he's doing takes a special guy," Panthers head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion told NFL.com, per Ian Rapoport, who provided more from Vermillion:

"
Not everyone can do what he's doing. He's not going to go through what he's gone through and not get this opportunity. ...
He's got a plate about six-inches long, that'll be in there forever. ... It's fixed. He's got an internal cast. It's not like we got to cast his arm. ...
He's got great grip strength, he can use his wrist, he can use his elbow, those are some of the challenges he's not going to have, which is real important. The biggest challenge for him right now is, what's it going to feel like to take a blow on it. What's it going to feel like to wrap up and pull somebody towards him? Those are the biggest challenges. The nice thing is, wrist motion is going to be there, elbow motion is going to be there, and his grip is there.
"

Latest on Davis' Practice Status

Wednesday, Feb. 3

Davis was a full participant in practice Wednesday, per NFL Network's Albert Breer.

Rivera Comments on Davis' Injury

Tuesday, Feb. 2

Head coach Ron Rivera told reporters Davis has been receiving treatment on his arm three times a day, per ESPN's Ed Werder.

Rivera said he's "very pleased" with how Davis practiced on Monday and "that he's responding well a day later," per Bryan Strickland of the Panthers' official website.

Rivera said he has "no doubt Thomas will be ready to go," per David Kaplan of CSN Chicago on Jan. 26.

Plate, Screws in Davis' Injured Arm

Tuesday, Feb. 2

Breer shared an image of what was inserted in Davis' arm during his surgery:

Davis Comments on Injury

Monday, Feb. 1

"It's the Super Bowl. What would I look like as a player if there was any chance ... and I'd not play in this game?" said Davis when asked by reporters about his arm, per Sports Illustrated. Davis added he is using a "hard brace" instead of a cast for his arm, per ESPN's Paul Gutierrez.

"I want to go out there and play for my teammates because I know I can help this team," Davis said on Jan. 28, per Tiffany Blackmon of NFL Network. He also said he is "feeling good" and "getting better every day," per Max Henson of the Panthers' official website.

David Newton of ESPN.com provided a photo of the bandage Davis wore as he spoke to reporters:

Davis told reporters he has "a plate and probably around 11 or 12 screws in my arm right now. It is what it is," per Henson.

Davis' Wife Posts Photo from Hospital

Monday, Jan. 25

Davis Has Been Catalyst for Superb Panthers Defense

Davis is easily one of the toughest players in the league, as evidenced by his resolve to come back from three ACL tears between 2009 and 2011 and play at an extremely high level.

Since then, Carolina's defensive stalwart has been largely healthy. He missed just two regular-season games between 2012 and 2014 and appeared in all 16 of the Panthers' regular-season games in 2015.

Although Davis nursed a pectoral injury earlier in the year, it didn't prevent him from suiting up in Carolina's Week 4 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

As the Panthers marched their way to the NFC's No. 1 seed, Davis tallied 75 solo tackles, a career-high 5.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and four interceptions. As a result, Davis earned first-team All-Pro honors for the first time in his career.

"He's been playing at this level since he came back from the last surgery he had," Rivera said in November, per Newton. "We've been playing on a bigger stage lately, had some things happen the last couple of years, and he's gotten the notoriety he deserves."

Combined with 2013 Defensive Player of the Year Luke Kuechly, Davis helps form arguably the league's most imposing linebacking tandem.