Thomas out with torn ACL
March 13, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Mar. 13, 2004) - San Jose defensive specialist Clevan Thomas, the two time Arena Football League ADT Defensive Player of the Year, was today placed on injured reserve after sustaining a season-ending knee injury in the SaberCats' loss at New York on March. 7, announced general manager Terry Malley.
Thomas, who set an AFL season record with 13 interceptions last season, tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee on a fourth quarter kickoff return and will be lost to the team for the remainder of the season. He is expected to undergo surgery soon, but no date has been set.
"Obviously it's a big loss," stated San Jose head coach Darren Arbet. "But we have depth in the defensive secondary and now everyone will have to take their game up a notch."
Not only did the SaberCats lose Thomas for the remainder of the season in that game, they also lost WR/LB Calvin Schexnayder for 6 to 8 weeks with a fractured left fibula and WR/LB Jerry Reese for a minimum of two weeks with a strained hamstring.
To fill the roster spots the SaberCats activated DS Wendell Davis from injured reserve and signed former San Jose State star Charles Pauley to the active roster from the practice squad. Davis is expected to start in place of Thomas on Sunday.
The SaberCats play the first of three straight home games on Sunday when they host former quarterback and ArenaBowl XVI MVP John Dutton and the Colorado Crush at 5:00 p.m. Tickets for that and all remaining SaberCats' home games can be purchased at all Northern California TicketMaster outlets, on-line at www.ticketmaster.com, or in person at the HP Pavilion box office. For season or group ticket information call the SaberCats at (408) 573-5577 or visit the team's official website at www.sanjosesabercats.com.
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