Ron Rivera: Yannick Ngakoue hit that injured TE Logan Thomas was 'avoidable'
Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera was able to share some unexpected good news about tight end Logan Thomas on Monday. He told the media that an MRI didn't confirm a torn ACL in Thomas' knee, which everyone feared after he left Sunday's game, so his season might not be over after all.
However, that doesn't change how Rivera feels about the hit that caused the injury. Using the most diplomatic words possible, he said that he felt the hit was "avoidable."
Ron Rivera, when asked about Yannick Ngakoue's hit on Logan Thomas: "You know, I thought the play was avoidable. It's unfortunate that the hit occurred and it was low. ... For the most part, I just felt that it was something that was avoidable."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) December 6, 2021
Thomas was injured on a hit from Yannick Ngakoue during WFT's 17-15 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. On an Antonio Gibson run play early in the fourth quarter, Thomas shifted left down the line to block. Ngakoue went low and ended up hitting Thomas on the knee.
Logan Thomas sifted back across the line on this run, edge defender went low to avoid block and hit Thomas' knee. pic.twitter.com/o861Eao3D9
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) December 5, 2021
Thomas was immediately in pain and called the trainers over. While he was able to walk off under his own power, he didn't return to the game and was ruled out soon after. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Washington feared that Logan had torn his ACL and was done for the year.
While Rivera said on Monday that the MRI didn't confirm a torn ACL, he also emphasized that they don't know the full extent of Thomas' injury yet. It's still possible he could miss the final five games of the season, but they won't know until he undergoes more tests.
Fans say Ngakoue's hit was 'dirty'
Ngakoue going low generated a lot of social media chatter from fans who, like Rivera, thought the hit was completely avoidable. Some called the play "dirty," while others called for Ngakoue to be suspended, but they were all united by one thing: anger.
That Yannick Ngakoue hit on Logan Thomas looked so dirty.
— Don Redcorn (@DJtheDON21) December 6, 2021
Yannick ngakoue needs to be suspended. If nfl really cared about player safety they’d do it
— 𝘀𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗵𝗮𝗻 (@DotsByFitz) December 5, 2021
To get knocked out of the game with a knee injury because you wanted to block someone and that person decided he wanted to take your knee out instead is just completely dirty. That play still pisses me off. Yannick Ngakoue is a dirty ass player. Then again, he's a Raider 🤷♂️
— where is the (@CultureChan9e) December 5, 2021
Suspend Yannick Ngakoue. Logan Thomas was pulling on a block away from the play, so to avoid the block Yannick dove at his leg in turn tearing his ACL, in turn ending his season🤨
— FamousFrankkk (@FamousFrankkk) December 6, 2021
Yannick Ngakoue deserves to actually be suspended man I’m so mad https://t.co/vXpi9y1npN
— 🎄tanner🎄 (@scorebug) December 6, 2021
@YannickNgakoue shame on your bro.. you knew what you were doing… https://t.co/CcluugZyz6
— jake_dunton_ (@jake_dunton_) December 6, 2021
@YannickNgakoue bum
— Jackson Tate (@jxntate) December 5, 2021
The NFL has not publicly commented about Ngakoue's hit on Thomas.