The San Francisco 49ers linebackers corps has taken another hit.
Reserve outside linebacker Chase Thomas has an ACL tear in his right knee. This happened in the wake of inside linebackers Patrick Willis and Chris Borland retiring within six days of each other, and with NaVorro Bowman still rehabbing from the devastating injury to his left knee in January, 2014.
Thomas, wearing a brace and walking with a limp, spoke to the Sacramento Bee and San Francisco Chronicle on Thursday at Stanford's pro day and said he suffered the injury "when he planted awkwardly during an offseason training session," per the Bee.
An undrafted free agent out of Stanford, Thomas spent time with the New Orleans Saints, Oakland Raiders, Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers before coming to the Niners last year. After beginning the season on the 49ers practice squad, he made his NFL debut in November and played on special teams in five games, getting two tackles.
Thomas, 25, is one of four outside linebackers on the 49ers roster, along with Ahmad Brooks, Corey Lemonier, Aaron Lynch and Aldon Smith.
Asked about Borland's retirement after one NFL season, which he explained to ESPN's Outside the Lines was a preventative measure for potential future brain injuries, Thomas said he backed his friend.
"I respect his decision," Thomas said, according to the Chronicle. "There's nothing wrong about being careful and cautious.
"Anyone could say 'That makes sense. I probably shouldn't do this.' But at the same time, there's a lot of guys that would take that risk. People could say ‘What's he doing?' But at the same time, it's his decision. If he wants to go do something else, that's completely fine … . I totally support him in his decision."
