Doctors can only speculate about which bone or bones Thomas Davis broke when the Carolina Panthers linebacker injured his right forearm during a tackle in last week’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. Surgery to repair the break may have included plates and/or screws to stabilize the bone, said Dr. Ned Amendola, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine at Duke. A hard, durable splint that’s appropriately padded per NFL rules can help protect the bone during the game as it heals.
“Theoretically he can play because the bone is stable and because of the hardware,” Amendola said. “If the player is able to tolerate the discomfort, it’s definitely feasible for him to play” as long as he understands the risks and ramifications of playing with a broken bone two weeks after his injury.
Watch to hear Amendola talk more about the risks of Davis playing on Super Bowl Sunday: