NFL notebook: Seahawks safety Thomas out for season
The Seahawks will be without safety Earl Thomas for the rest of the season and playoffs because his broken lower left leg.
It’s the first major injury of Thomas’ career. He played 106 straight games before missing Seattle’s loss at Tampa Bay last week with a hamstring injury.
He quickly recovered to play against the Panthers but was hurt in a second-quarter collision with teammate Kam Chancellor going for an interception.
Rivera defends decision to sit down Newton
Panthers coach Ron Rivera is not worried about losing the faith of his players in the locker room after his decision to bench Cam Newton for the start of Sunday night’s game against the Seahawks.
Rivera said Monday in hindsight he’s “very comfortable” with his decision to keep the reigning league MVP on the sideline after he failed to wear a tie on the team flight Saturday, as required by team rules.
Rivera said there was no underlying message to Newton because he has enforced similar dress code violations in the past.
“It’s not the first time and it probably won’t be the last time,” Rivera said. “At the end of the day, everybody gets treated the same.”
RG3’s status up in air
Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III said he still doesn’t know if he’ll start this week against Cincinnati.
Griffin was cleared for contact only recently after breaking a bone in his left shoulder in the season opener Sept. 11.
He said doctors told him it was “highly unlikely” he would be able to play again this season, but “the best-case scenario happened.”
Browns coach Hue Jackson said it was too early in the week to know if Griffin will be ready to face the Bengals. The Browns had their first practice following their bye week Monday.
Griffin said he’ll be OK with whatever Jackson decides, but Griffin said it’s important for him to return to the field and try and help the Browns (0-12) get their first win. He hopes to give them a spark in the final four games as Cleveland tries to avoid becoming the second team in league history to go 0-16.
Broncos claim Forsett
Justin Forsett is reuniting with Gary Kubiak in Denver.
The Broncos claimed the 31-year-old running back off waivers from Detroit to replace Kapri Bibbs, who went on IR with a high-ankle sprain.
Over his career, Forsett has averaged 5.5 yards a carry in Kubiak’s offenses and 4.4 yards elsewhere.
Forsett averaged 3.1 yards per carry in five games this season, three with the Ravens and two with the Lions.
That’s better than Broncos rookie Devontae Booker’s 2.8-yard average since C.J. Anderson (knee) went on IR.
Harvin done for season
Percy Harvin’s comeback lasted two games after the Bills placed the receiver on the season-ending reserve/non-football-illness list because of migraines.
The move comes a month since the Bills lured the receiver out of retirement.
Harvin appeared in two games this season and finished with two catches for 6 yards, plus an 11-yard run.
Vikings’ Zimmer returns
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is back at work after eye surgery and expects to travel with the team for Sunday’s game at Jacksonville.
Zimmer had an emergency operation last week to repair a detached retina, forcing him to miss a game for the first time in his NFL coaching career.
Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer ran the team in his absence as Minnesota fell to 6-6. Zimmer has had multiple surgeries on his right eye over the past month.
Around the league
Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso underwent surgery to repair a broken right thumb, but coach Adam Gase said he might be available to play Sunday against Arizona. … Titans rookie linebacker Kevin Dodd (foot) will be placed on injured reserve.