By Tom Keppeler, Shoulder1 Staff
In the last decade, less than 10 players in the National Football League have broken their shoulders. Minnesota Vikings free safety Orlando Thomas has broken both of his.
Thomas may return to playing Sunday, just eight weeks after breaking his left shoulder bone. Last season, Thomas broke his right. Not only is the shoulder blade one of the least-often broken bones in the body, a web of thick padding surrounds it in NFL uniforms. Coaches, trainers, and Thomas himself remain perplexed as to why he has broken both shoulders.
Since the 222-pound, 6-foot-1 free safety rejoined the medical leave list, the Vikings have taken a defensive drubbing. The team has allowed the Rams and the Packers to average 471 yards and 36.5 points against them in the past two weeks.
Coach Dennis Green told the Associated Press Monday Thomas' absence does not account for their weak defense. "You don't win with guys in the secondary," he told the AP. "You've got to win up front."
