National Football League

Seahawks' Earl Thomas has torn labrum, will need surgery

Published Feb. 5, 2015 5:04 p.m. ET

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SEATTLE (AP) The Seattle Seahawks' vaunted secondary was a beaten up group in the Super Bowl.

Three of the four starters in Seattle's defensive backfield played with significant injuries in the 28-24 loss to New England. The latest to be confirmed was All-Pro free safety Earl Thomas, who has a torn labrum in his left shoulder and is scheduled for surgery.

Thomas' agent, David Mulugheta, confirmed the injury and need for surgery in an email Thursday to The Associated Press.

Surgery was the likely outcome after Thomas suffered a dislocated shoulder in the first half of the NFC championship game. He returned to play the second half in the victory over Green Bay and played in last Sunday's Super Bowl against New England wearing a brace.

Thomas was in for every defensive play of the loss to the Patriots and missed only four plays of the NFC title game.

On Monday, Seattle coach Pete Carroll said Thomas might need surgery but was unsure at that time. ESPN first reported Thomas' need for surgery.

Thomas, strong safety Kam Chancellor and cornerback Richard Sherman all played against the Patriots with significant injuries. Sherman has ligament damage in his left elbow after being injured in the NFC title game and may need Tommy John surgery.

Chancellor played with a torn medial collateral ligament and deep bone bruise in his left knee after he bumped knees with a teammate in practice two days before the Super Bowl. Chancellor told the team's website that he was initially told he would not be able to play against the Patriots.

But just like Thomas, Sherman and Chancellor were in for every play.

''That was a heroic thing that those guys did to play and all three of those guys might wind up getting fixed up here,'' Carroll said Monday. ''They all knew it and they wanted to play for their teammates and they did exactly that and did it in great fashion.''

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