Logan Thomas returned to the field on Thanksgiving Weekend after a six-game absence due to injury, but left Sunday’s win over the Raiders following a blow to the leg during a block. It was first reported that the Washington Football Team’s veteran tight end tore his ACL and MCL, but head coach Ron Rivera said on Monday that hasn’t been confirmed just yet.
“The MRI results came back. They were better than we anticipated,” Rivera said, via Pro Football Talk. “Obviously, there is some damage there. It’s not as extensive as first thought. So, we’re sending for a few more tests just to make sure and we’ll go from there. So we’re still waiting on a little be more of an evaluation, but it is a little bit more positive than first anticipated.”
When Rivera was asked if this meant Thomas did not tear his ACL, Rivera seemed to indicate he didn’t, but said that he didn’t want to say anything before it was confirmed.
“That right now is the thing that seems to be positive,” said Rivera. “We’re just waiting to get confirmation and we want to make sure we don’t want to get ahead of it or anything like that, OK? So please just understand that.”
Thomas, who this summer signed a three-year extension with Washington, started hot in Sunday’s win over Las Vegas, making a one-handed touchdown catch to put his team on the board first. He was forced out of action later, however, when Raiders pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue went low to avoid Thomas’ block, taking out the tight end’s leg. Thomas is set to undergo an MRI this week to confirm his diagnosis, per ESPN.
This season has been an injury-riddled follow-up to the veteran’s breakout 2020 campaign, in which the former quarterback emerged with 72 catches for 670 yards and six scores as a first-time starter. Thomas opened 2021 productively, but a hamstring injury suffered in Week 4 landed him on IR, where he remained until Nov. 29. As of now, he has played just six games, totaling 18 catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns.
Washington, which has now won four straight and is looking to capture one of the NFC’s wild card playoff spots, will likely turn to reserves John Bates and Sammis Reyes at tight end if Thomas is sidelined.
