Thomas’ injury gives rookie Ellis chance to step up on Saints’ D-line
Add Sedrick Ellis to the list of rookies to make a big-time impact in 2008. The seventh overall pick by the New Orleans Saints in the 2008 NFL Draft will be pressed into major action this season after it was announced Thursday, that starting defensive tackle Hollis Thomas could be out for two months with a right triceps injury.
The 12-year veteran went in for surgery to repair the injury that occurred on Wednesday in practice, while running through some pass-blocking drills.
This was not Thomas’ only injury, as he has already missed numerous practices during camp with a cyst on the back of his knee. Thomas had just returned to practicing when the injury to his right arm happened during a joint practice with the Houston Texans.
The question for the Saints is whether they should hold an active roster spot for the veteran for the first six weeks of the season or place him on injured reserve, therefore ending his season. The answer should come over the next couple of weeks depending on how quickly Thomas can recover from surgery.
Thomas started 14 games in 2007, recording 58 tackles and three sacks.
The huge defensive tackle had been bringing the rookie along and teaching him the ropes, and Ellis couldn’t be more sorry to see his new teammate go out with an injury.
“He’s a great guy to take the time to help a younger guy, but I’m going to have to pick it up on my own now,” Ellis said. “We wish him a great recovery and we’ve got to move on. It’s the whole defensive line’s responsibility to help in those situations that Hollis has left open from his injury, but I don’t feel any pressure personally.”
The injury to Thomas leaves a massive void in the lineup for the Saints, but Ellis’ teammates are confident that he can fill that void.
New Orleans linebacker Scott Fujita said. “With the new guy, obviously he’s got a whole different level of athleticism that’s going to help him get a lot more involved in rushing the passer and making plays on the ball….So a lot of that remains to be seen,” Fujita added. “We have high expectations for him, but once you get into games and see how he performs, the jury’s still out.”
Ellis will likely move into the starting lineup, and his pass-rush skills should dramatically improve a defense that allowed a league-worst 32 passing touchdowns. The often erratic and non-existent rush allowed for 245.2 passing yards per game and 45 completions of 30-plus yards, with one-third of those between 40 and 80 yards.
Last year as a senior at USC, Ellis played in all 13 of the Trojans’ games, recording 58 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and 8.5 sacks with 7 passes batted down and two fumble recoveries. He was named the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year and an All-American for his efforts in 2007.
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