Ex-Bulldog Phillip Thomas puts injury in past, seeks key role with Washington Redskins | Fresno State Football | FresnoBee.com
A Lisfranc foot injury cost Washington Redskins strong safety Phillip Thomas all of his rookie season in 2013.
But he did not stay discouraged for long. Why should he?
He had gone through it all before and emerged as a national college star. Thomas missed all of his junior season in 2011 at Fresno State, suffering a broken leg and a dislocated ankle in a non-contact drill three days before the opener.
Then he bounced back in a big way, earning All-America status the next year while finishing with eight interceptions.
Now back in Redskins camp, Thomas says he believes there is nothing preventing him from being as productive as he was in his final season with the Bulldogs.
"If everything goes like it did in Fresno, then maybe I will get a whole bunch of picks and make a name for myself out here," he said.
There still is some rehab work to do. Doctors cleared him for the Lisfranc injury -- which can involve a fracture and dislocation -- in late March. But a balky hamstring forced him to sit out the team's preseason opener Thursday.
"Just working through that right now," the 6-foot-1, 223-pound Thomas said. "As far as the foot, I'm feeling great. But running to the ball I felt my hamstring grab. It's something that is real minor."
Thomas is happy that at least the major injury he suffered is in the rear-view mirror.
"I've been waiting a long time to get back out on the field. It's a blessing that I came back and really had no worries," he said. "I've been able to run ... change directions, and I'm back to where I was at before."
That ability is why the Redskins selected the Bakersfield native in the fourth round (119th overall) in the 2013 NFL draft.
Thomas was ready to show off those All-America skills until he injured his foot in the first preseason game last season against the Tennessee Titans.
"It was terrible and depressing," he recalled. "I've been here before. I had to find a way to get myself back healthy and be prepared to play again when it's full-steam ahead. Can't be really down on it for too long. You just got to be a pro about things and do the best you can to get back on the field as soon as possible."
A lot has changed in a year for Thomas and the Redskins.
Jay Gruden replaced Mike Shanahan as the head coach, and Washington signed ex-Pittsburgh Steeler Ryan Clark as the new starting free safety.
What hasn't changed is Thomas' defensive back coach. Raheem Morris returns for his second season with the team.
During training camp, Morris pulled Thomas to the side and told him what he wants this season.
"Be vocal," Thomas said.
Thomas is OK with that, saying he is relishing the role but also "looking forward to making plays."
"That's something coach Morris has harped on me about," Thomas said. "Be vocal and be a leader. Just study my playbook and be in there and just be a guy that doesn't really have to think much so I don't have to make many corrections."
Thomas is second on the depth chart behind Brandon Meriweather, and that's fine with the challenger. At least for now.
"It's been great," Thomas said of camp. "The injury that I had, people say it was pretty excruciating, but I wasn't going to let it slow me down and I came back and I've been doing good. Running around and I'm just ready to play."
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Ex-Bulldog Phillip Thomas puts injury in past, seeks key role with Washington Redskins | Fresno State Football | FresnoBee.com
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