Getty Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens.
The Cleveland Browns had a scary scene at training camp practice on Monday when defensive end Chad Thomas was immobilized and carted off the field.
There was reportedly no official word on what happened but Thomas was put on the cart with all of his gear still on. Head coach Freddie Kitchens said in his post-practice press conference that the immobilization was precautionary.
#Browns DL Chad Thomas was immobilized and carted off after suffering an injury in practice at #BrownsCamp #3Browns
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported that Thomas has feeling in his extremities and was going to be taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram and Medina Gazette added that it was a neck injury that Thomas sustained.
#Browns Chad Thomas has feeling in his extremities and was taken to University Hospitals for further evaluation after being carted off
Thomas was a third-round pick of the Browns last season out of Miami. He did not record any stats last season but had one tackle and one QB hit during Cleveland’s preseason win against the Washington Redskins on Thursday. Thomas played his college ball at the University of Miami.
Utter silence in Berea save for scattered applause from fans as Chad Thomas carted off. Was holding his facemask with both hands. #Browns
Following practice, wide receiver Jarvis Landry spoke on the injury.
“It’s never a moment at any point in time, in any sport that anyone wants to see,” Landry said. “It’s just the game we play and it happens.”
Chad Thomas Produces Music as ‘Major Nine’ off the Filed
Off the field, Thomas has a musical alias and is known as “Major Nine.” As Ian Rapoport reported during the draft, he had to convince team’s he was committed to football because his music career was so successful.
Thomas was recently a producer on rapper Rick Ross’ new album “Port of Miami 2.” He produced and provided lyrics for the song, “Running the Streets.”
Thomas also worked with Ross in 2017, when he was still a member of the Hurricanes.
“I was too happy,” Thomas told The Washington Post of the collab. “It dropped a week after my mama’s birthday, and I wanted to surprise her with it. I couldn’t even wait until the day of the album. I just told my mom I made a beat for Ross, and it’s going to be on his intro. I told my daddy, and he said we’ve gotta print the check stubs and frame that. We’ve gotta go buy the hard copy.
“It made me drop a tear. The song really touched me. It spoke my life. Then to think that I made the beat, just to come from where I’m from in Miami in Liberty City, a lot of people don’t get opportunities like this. When they do, they either mess it up or somebody messes it up for them. I felt blessed for that opportunity.”
Chad Thomas Involved in Scuffle Early in Training Camp
Tempers flared early on in training camp as Thomas got into an extended scuffle with tight end Pharaoh Brown. The two got into a shoving match before teammates separated them.
ESPN’s Jake Trotter caught the incident on video. Thomas is No. 92 and Brown is wearing jersey No. 86.
DE Chad Thomas not happy
Kitchens made the entire team run gassers as punishment following the fight.
Thomas apparently wasn’t too happy about it. Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reported that Thomas flipped off a fan who yelled at him, “Come on 92, hustle.”
“Chad Thomas, as you guys see, is a very emotional, passionate guy,” Kitchens said. “I want those guys to play with passion. But he’s also a young guy, so he has to understand and develop a sense of when to move on.”
Two of Thomas’ defensive line partners, Larry Ogunjobi and Sheldon Richardson, urged him to apologize following him giving the fan the bird.
“You’ve just got to give him time,” Ogunjobi said. “You’re already angry at the situation. We’re always on that line. People forget that. We’re always teetering that line and sometimes somebody kind nudges us over that edge and it’s that quick snap. But that’s what we’re here for, just to pull him back.”
The Browns head to Indianapolis this week for some joint practices and their second preseason game on Saturday.
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Browns Defensive End Immobilized, Carted Off Field With Injury