Cleveland Browns' Chad Thomas suffers neck injury in scary moment at practice
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Cleveland Browns defensive end Chad Thomas was immobilized on the field and taken away by an ambulance after suffering a neck injury during practice Monday.
Thomas, 23, sustained a sprained neck in what initially appeared to be a more serious injury. He was back at the Browns’ facility later in the evening, a team spokesman told the Associated Press. His return to practice will be determined on a day-to-day basis.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Thomas, a third-round pick in 2018, took a blow to his right shoulder and head area during a play at practice. He initially stood up and then went down to the ground and was treated by Browns personnel.
It was a jarring moment for Thomas’ teammates.
“It's never a moment at any point in time in any sport — or in anything — that's a sight that anybody wants to see,” Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry told reporters. “Chad's in our prayers.”
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Coach Freddie Kitchens said it was a reminder of the brutal nature of the sport.
“In our game, that's reality,” he said. “Sometimes that happens during the course of a game and mentally we've got to keep moving forward. At the end of the day, this is still practice, so you don't want to see your teammate laying there."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“But again, the protocol for anything like that is sometimes it looks worse than it is. Not to make any light of it. It's a serious nature, but Joe [Sheehan, team president of player health and development] and his staff did everything to protocol to make sure there was no damage done after the fact," Kitchens added.
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Thomas played in four games last season for the Browns. He’s expected to get more playing time this season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Associated Press contributed to this report.