Browns’ Thomas is out for season
Joe Thomas felt the tendon detach from his elbow and roll up in his arm, and before the pain registered, the Browns’ seemingly indestructible tackle realized everything had changed.
His day was over. His season done. His career in doubt.
Thomas suffered a torn left triceps during Sunday’s loss to the Titans and will miss the rest of his 11th season, a devastating blow to the 10-time Pro Bowler and the winless Browns.
Thomas, 32, who had never missed a snap since turning pro in 2007, will undergo surgery Tuesday and could need nine months to recover from a serious injury that has left him pondering his future beyond this season. Thomas said he’ll wait until the offseason before deciding whether to keep playing or retire.
The face of a floundering franchise for a decade, Thomas played 10,363 consecutive snaps before he was forced to leave the field Sunday, ending what is believed to be the longest consecutive plays streak in NFL history.
The NFL suspended Vikings safety Andrew Sendejo for one game for violating player safety rules in Sunday’s win against the Ravens. Sendejo’s hit on Ravens receiver Mike Wallace was directly to the head. Wallace’s helmet flew off during the collision and Sendejo was penalized for unnecessary roughness.
Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott will play at least one more game before another ruling from a federal judge on his sixgame suspension over domestic violence allegations. U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla turned down the NFL’s request for an expedited hearing on a preliminary injunction. She set one for Oct. 30, a day after the Cowboys play the Redskins.
Texans veteran left tackle Duane Brown ended his holdout after missing the team’s first six games. Brown has two years remaining on his contract and had sought a new deal, which he did not receive . ... Dolphins coach Adam Gase says quarterback Jay Cutler has multiple cracked ribs, making it unlikely he’ll play Thursday at Baltimore . ... Colts safety Malik Hooker will miss the rest of the season after injuring his right knee in Sunday’s game. Coach Chuck Pagano said an MRI revealed the rookie had torn the ACL and MCL during a 27-0 loss to the Jaguars. Hooker, the 15th overall pick in this year’s draft, was tied for third in the NFL with three interceptions . ... Marshawn Lynch has presented his appeal to the NFL to overturn his onegame suspension for bumping an official . ... Chargers left guard Matt Slauson will miss the rest of the season with a biceps injury. ... The Lions activated defensive tackle Khyri Thornton and waived quarterback Brad Kaaya. Thornton was suspended for the first six games of the season for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy . ... Pro Bowl receiver T.Y. Hilton apologized after criticizing the Colts’ offensive line. Hilton told reporters that the linemen need to take more pride in protecting the quarterback.