Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis was scheduled to undergo surgery Monday morning in hopes of stabilizing a broken right forearm enough to allow the 11-year veteran to play in Super Bowl 50.
Carolina coach Ron Rivera was optimistic that Davis will be able to play against the Denver Broncos on Feb. 7 in Santa Clara, Calif.
“If everything goes well, it is my understanding this is something he can play with,” Rivera said Monday during his news conference.
Davis, who was selected to the Pro Bowl, was injured tackling Arizona Cardinals tight end Darren Fells in the second quarter of the NFC Championship game Sunday. As Davis closed on Fells, Fells went airborne and caught Davis awkwardly.
Davis posted a photo on Instagram in a surgical cap on Monday morning after saying Sunday night he’ll do “whatever it takes” to be on the field against Broncos.
“I’ve got two weeks to heal up. I ain’t missing the Super Bowl, you know that,” he said Sunday.
Davis knows about coming back from injuries. Three times he returned from tearing his anterior cruciate ligament to regain a starting job with the Panthers.
It’s not known if Davis would be medically cleared to play with a cast on his forearm. The injury typically requires at least four weeks and in many cases six weeks to fully heal.