Dave Thomas, the Jacksonville Jaguars' cornerback who suffered a broken left femur in yesterday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals, underwent surgery this afternoon at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. The surgery lasted approximately two-and-a-half hours, and was performed by Dr. Michael Welch of the Bengals medical staff and Dr. Stephen Lucie, the Jaguars' head team physician.
Thomas' broken femur was set with a metal rod and three screws, and Dr. Lucie said the operation went well. Thomas will likely remain in Christ hospital until Friday, and then return home to Jacksonville on Friday or Saturday. He will begin a rehabilitation program later this week which will continue in Jacksonville starting next week. It is anticipated that Thomas will make a complete recovery for the 1997 football season.
Thomas and Jaguars safety Dana Hall were injured on an onside kick in the final two minutes of Sunday's game. Both players were taken from the field on stretchers for X-rays. Hall's X-rays on his back were negative, and he returned to Jacksonville on the team airplane Sunday evening.
