For Davis, never a question

Broken arm won’t keep Panthers’ linebacker out of game

The the back white bandage of Thomas Davis’

SAN JOSE stretches along right forearm.

It is the only sign— and a thin one at that — of a broken bone held together by ametal plate and12 screws.

Davis is less than two weeks removed fromsurgery— and days fromplaying in the Super Bowl.

The veteran linebacker said this week that “without a doubt” he would be in the lineup for the Carolina Panthers on Sunday against the Denver Broncos.

“I’m in a real good place now,” he said.

with

it

right

The Panthers, seeking their first Super Bowl title, are not surprised by Davis’ resolve to be on the field at Levi’s Stadium.

This is a player who had three major surgeries in three years on the same knee and came back to produce four consecutive 100-tackle seasons.

At age 32, the 6-foot-1, 235-poundDavis is improbably enjoying his most productive season. He has 51⁄ sacks, four interceptions and four forced fumbles— all career bests.

So when Davis suffered a broken arm in the NFC championship game against the Arizona Cardinals, teammates did not question whether he would play in the biggest game of his 11-year NFL career.

STREETER LECKA/GETTY IMAGES The broken arm is just another in a series of injuries Carolina linebacker Thomas Davis has had to endure during his 11-year career. He has come back from three knee surgeries on the same knee.