The Seahawks lost arguably their most important defensive player Sunday night. After diving to break up a Cam Newton pass deep down the field and dropping what would've been an awesome interception, Seahawks safety Earl Thomas didn't get up off the ground. His leg appeared to bend awkwardly after taking the shot.
He was eventually carried off the field. After reaching the sidelines, Thomas was carted back to the locker room. NBC sideline reporter Michele Tafoya reported that Thomas left the X-ray room on crutches. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Thomas broke a bone in his leg and is out indefinitely. Tafoya then added after halftime that Pete Carroll told her that Thomas suffered a cracked tibia.
Thomas tweeted near the end of the second quarter that he's considering 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
Thomas also tweeted that Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor owed him a steak, perhaps because Chancellor collided with Thomas on the play, which might've resulted in the injury.
Kam you owe me a steak . Haha
— Earl Thomas (@Earl_Thomas) December 5, 2016
Fittingly, Ted Ginn burned the Seahawks for a 55-yard touchdown immediately after Thomas left, getting behind the Thomas-less secondary on third-and-17.
.@CameronNewton's cannon + @TedGinnJr_19's speed = @Panthers TD!
— NFL (@NFL) December 5, 2016
55 YARDS. #CARvsSEAhttps://t.co/iMOceFQ19z
Sunday night marked Thomas' return after he missed an NFL game for the first time ever a week ago with a hamstring injury. Due to his incredible speed and anticipation, which he demonstrated on the play that resulted in his injury, and his hard-hitting ability (just ask Kelvin Benjamin, who got whacked Sunday night), Thomas is one of the -- if not the -- best safeties in the entire league. He has two picks this year and a touchdown off a fumble recovery.
Simply put, the Seahawks' defense isn't the same without Thomas.
If Earl Thomas' injury is serious, that's a major blow to the Seahawks pic.twitter.com/HzIBjzuadC
— SB Nation NFL (@SBNationNFL) December 5, 2016