National Football League

Pectoral injury likely to end season for Dolphins safety Michael Thomas

Published Nov. 3, 2014 2:27 p.m. ET

Alex Marvez

The Miami Dolphins have lost the services of a core special teams player and top contributor in their second-ranked pass defense.

FOX Sports has learned that safety Michael Thomas has suffered a pectoral injury that will likely sideline him for the rest of the 2014 season. Thomas was injured in Sunday’s 37-0 victory over San Diego.

Thomas is among the league-leaders in special-teams tackles with a team-high nine, including two against the Chargers. Thomas has one start at safety this season in Week 2 against Buffalo and also played nickel cornerback in last month’s win over Chicago.

Thomas, 25, made an immediate splash upon joining the Dolphins last season after being signed off San Francisco’s practice squad. Despite not even having a week of practice in Miami’s defense, he intercepted a Tom Brady pass late in the fourth quarter to preserve a Week 15 victory over New England.

Thomas played collegiately at Stanford and was signed by San Francisco as an undrafted college free agent in 2012.

The Dolphins, which are allowing 201.1 passing yards per game, play Sunday at Detroit.