Great job reading the eyes of the QB!! Amazing closing speed by Earl Thomas!!! pic.twitter.com/TJMQzZ0qWu
— WeAreDBnation (@WeAreDBNation1) December 5, 2016
Just a week ago Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas missed the first game of his NFL career with a hamstring injury, and now his season might be over after a devastating injury suffered in the Seahawks’ Sunday night game against the Panthers. The 27-year-old Thomas was doing his usual flying-all-over-the-field-ball-hawking thing when he suffered a leg injury in a collision with teammate Kam Chancellor on a near interception.
Thomas was helped off the field, and the impact of his absence was immediately felt as the Panthers scored their only touchdown on a 55-yard pass on the next play. He was carted to the locker room and speculation was rampant, and sideline tests had ESPN’s Stephania Bell wondering if Thomas had suffered a fracture.
Possibly fracture. Bone particularly sensitive to percussion/vibration. https://t.co/pMxuLaRREi
— Stephania Bell (@Stephania_ESPN) December 5, 2016
Sure enough, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport later confirmed that Thomas had indeed suffered a broken bone in his leg.
#Seahawks S Earl Thomas suffered a broken bone in his leg in the first half, sources say. He's out indefinitely. Brutal injury.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 5, 2016
It was later reported on the NBC broadcast that the injury is a cracked tibia – the shin bone – and Thomas tweeted a gut-wrenching, instant reaction to the injury where he seems to be contemplating retirement.
This game has been so good to me no regrets.. A lot is running through my mind including retirement thanks for all the prayers.
— Earl Thomas (@Earl_Thomas) December 5, 2016
It was not all gloom and doom for Thomas though, as he also quipped that his buddy in the Seahawks secondary Chancellor owes him a steak.
Kam you owe me a steak . Haha
— Earl Thomas (@Earl_Thomas) December 5, 2016
Hopefully they’re both eating steaks together soon, with them both in good health.