Testing has revealed that Washington tight end Logan Thomas tore his ACL earlier this month in a win over the Las Vegas Raiders, after an initial MRI indicated the opposite.
The news is a blow to Thomas, who likely will need surgery to repair the knee and a more enduring rehabilitation process.
The tight end got hurt with 10 minutes left in the Dec. 5 game when Raiders defensive end Yannick Ngakoue took out Thomas‘ knees during a run play. The team initially feared Thomas tore his ACL, but coach Ron Rivera said a day later that the initial MRI was better than expected.
Still, Rivera said Thomas needed additional testing — and as a result, doctors discovered that Thomas does have a torn knee.
Washington had placed Thomas on injured reserve last week for the second time — ending his season. NFL rules state that a player who is placed on the list more than once in a season cannot return that season. He had already spent time on injured reserve in 2021 when he missed six games with a hamstring injury.
Thomas appeared in six games this year, catching 18 catches for 196 yards and three touchdowns. He signed a three-year, $24 million contract extension in July.
Ngakoue was criticized for the hit that led to Thomas‘ injury, with fans calling the play dirty. Rivera said he thought the hit was “avoidable.” The NFL, however, did not penalize or fine Ngakoue for the hit.
