The Carolina Panthers didn't escape unscathed from their shellacking of the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday night. Linebacker Thomas Davis made a tackle late in the first half of the Panthers' 49-15 victory and did not return. It was later revealed that he had suffered a broken right forearm. On Monday, Davis' wife, Kelly Davis, posted an Instagram indicating that the veteran Carolina backer was surgery-bound.
Post by Thomas Davis' wife, Kelly, indicates TD is having surgery this morning on his broken right arm pic.twitter.com/BTPjnuFN7A
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) January 25, 2016
Despite it all, Davis has remained adamant that he'll be ready to suit up for Super Bowl 50 on Feb. 7 in Santa Clara, California.
"I ain't missing the Super Bowl," Davis said after the Panthers' victory over the Cardinals, per ESPN. "You better believe that. ... The early prognosis is it's broken. We'll get it figured out, and I'll be ready in two weeks."
Dr. David J. Chao, a former NFL head team physician, tweeted on Monday that he "expects" Davis to play well, citing the fact that during his time on the sidelines, he had two former players return from similar injury in just two weeks and that images of Davis on the victory podium Sunday night show that Davis' injury didn't affect his elbow.
"Expect surgery to be announced for Davis. Isolated ulna fractures tend to sometimes heal poorly in a cast. The plate and screws inserted will provide early stability and allow motion while the bone heals. A short cast/splint will provide protection against another direct blow.
"It has been reported that Davis would play if 'it's a pain tolerance issue.' Without surgery, the ulna is at risk to displace and he would need a long arm cast. Surgery stabilizes the bone, shortens the cast and essentially converts this injury into a pain issue."
Undergoing whatever procedure was necessary on Monday gives Davis the full complement of two weeks to return to health. And considering Davis is no stranger to significant NFL injuries - he's now come back from three separate ACL tears - and playing through pain, it really wouldn't be surprising to see him take the field at Levi Stadium with his Panthers teammates next month.
