Earl Thomas Injury: Updates on Seahawks Star's Leg and Recovery

Adam WellsDec 4, 2016

Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas suffered a broken leg during a Week 13 game against the Carolina Panthers when he collided with teammate Kam Chancellor and was carted off the field. Thomas was later placed on injured reserve, ending his season. It's unclear if the injury will require surgery.

Continue for updates.

Carroll Comments on Thomas' Recovery Timeline

Wednesday, Dec. 7

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll told reporters it will be "months" before Thomas is fully healed from his injury.

Thomas Hits IR

Tuesday, Dec. 6

Thomas has been placed on the injured reserve list, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Thomas Comments on Injury

Monday, Dec. 5

"I'm taking it one day at a time. I still feel the same way I felt last night," Thomas said to ESPN's Ed Werder.

On Sunday, Thomas tweeted his thoughts in the immediate aftermath of suffering the injury:

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk noted league policy states players are not permitted to tweet during games.

Thomas Injury Details Revealed

Monday, Dec. 5

Carroll confirmed Thomas broke his tibia and would be out for the rest of the season, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. Carroll isn't sure if Thomas will need surgery, per Condotta, saying the injury is "a serious recovery he's got to go through."

However, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Thomas will not need surgery, and that could make his recovery "a bit easier."

Sherman Comments on Thomas' Injury

Monday, Dec. 5

Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman posted on his website regarding Thomas' injury:

"
Even with the big win, we got some bad news last night when Earl Thomas went down with a broken leg. I'm sad for him. He is a guy who does things the right way and he is a master of his craft. Earl is one of the biggest competitors that I know. Even last night when Earl was laying on the field with his broken leg, he wasn't talking about the injury - he was talking about the play he made to break the pass up.
I got to talk to him a little after the game and he seemed to be in good spirits. He is a strong willed dude and I know he is going to be fine. I hope all of you guys get behind him by sending him all your well wishes and prayers so that we can get him back out on the field as soon as possible.
"

Carroll Comments on Thomas' Tweet

Sunday, Dec. 4

"Earl is apt to say something that might surprise you, and he did," Carroll said regarding Thomas' tweet about contemplating retirement, per Lindsay Jones of USA Today.

Teammates React to Thomas' Injury

Sunday, Dec. 4

"You lose one of the best safeties to ever play the game, [it's] a devastating thing," Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson said, per Bell.

Regarding Thomas' tweet, teammate Richard Sherman said, "I think all of us consider retirement just about every game and when you get injured like that, a lot of stuff goes through your mind," per Stephen Cohen of Seattlepi.com.

Thomas Key Cog in Seahawks Defense

Cam Newton found Ted Ginn Jr. for a 55-yard touchdown on the play after Thomas exited.

Thomas has been a rock in Seattle's secondary since he was drafted in 2010. The three-time All-Pro never missed a start in his NFL career before 2016, playing through a dislocated shoulder that later required surgery during the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl in 2015.

Now in his seventh NFL season, Thomas has been a disruptive force of nature. He had interceptions in consecutive weeks against the New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons and has nine passes defensed.

No team in the NFL has been better at acquiring depth than the Seahawks over the last five years. The loss of Thomas would crush most defenses, but Seattle still has Richard Sherman and DeShawn Shead on the outside with Chancellor in the other safety spot.

Look for veteran Steven Terrell to handle free safety duties. The third-year backup is capable of being a fill-in for the time being.

Thomas is impossible to replace in Seattle's defense, and the Seahawks organization has to be concerned about filling the void not only for the rest of this season but potentially beyond.