Seven-time Pro Bowl safety Earl Thomas was sent home from the Baltimore Ravens team facility on Friday following a fight with teammate Chuck Clark, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Saturday morning.
The Ravens returned to the practice field on Saturday, but Thomas did not.
Thomas was told to stay home Saturday, Pelissero reported. At that point, Pelissero reported fines, a release or a trade are all seemingly on the table. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo later reported Thomas was not expected at Sunday's practice.
On Sunday morning, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported a decision from the Ravens on Thomas' future was likely to come Sunday, but the longer the safety is absent the more realistic the chances are that he is traded or released by Baltimore.
Thomas released a statement on social media early Saturday afternoon.
"Being sent home sucks, I can’t take the reps I need to keep momentum going, but I can reflect on things and keep working my plan to help the team win," he began. "This has been one of of my best camps crazy a situation like this can through dirt on it. Here is the clip that started the fight. A mental error on my part. A busted coverage that I tried to explain calmly meet with built up aggression turned into me getting into with a teammate. Since we didn’t keep it in house and I’m getting text and calls from ESPN reporters etc : thought I’d try and clear the air ... situations like this narrow my window for error but this the path I choose."
Thomas later deleted his statement.
Thomas is in his second season with the Ravens after a nine-year run with the Seattle Seahawks that ended following another infamous incident.
Clark is entering his fourth NFL season -- all with the Ravens.
Thomas, 31, started 15 games at strong safety and earned a Pro Bowl bid in his first year with Baltimore last season, while Clark, 25, started 10 games at free safety. Thomas also got into it with Ravens defensive lineman Brandon Williams following a game last season, Garafolo pointed out. "He's a passionate guy who sometimes cranks the intensity up a little too high," he said, adding the Ravens were in the process of handling the incident.
Thomas headed to Baltimore as a free agent ahead of the 2019 season. His run in Seattle ended with him hoping for a new contract, but instead being carted off with a broken leg and flipping off the Seahawks sideline.
As pointed out by Pelissero, Thomas' dismissal from the team facility is a situation to monitor.