San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Solomon Thomas is rehabbing from the injury suffered during Week 2 of last season when he sustained tears to his ACL, lateral meniscus, and medial patellofemoral ligament. He has been rehabbing in Southern California, started running, and is focused on being ready for training camp.
Will that be with the 49ers, the team that drafted him No. 3 overall in 2017?
Thomas doesn't have the answer to that. He is scheduled to become a free agent in about a week. The injury does complicate things, but the defensive lineman expects to be available for the upcoming season.
Thomas joined The Jim Rome Show on Tuesday to discuss his efforts to spread awareness about mental health, something he has championed since losing his sister to death by suicide in 2018. The 25-year-old defensive lineman also briefly discussed the emotions of potentially becoming a free agent.
"It's exciting. It's also nerve-racking," Thomas told Rome. "It will all work out, and I'll be at the perfect place for me. I've had an amazing experience with the Niners, how they've kind of taken care of me and my family through the things that we've been through, and I'm forever thankful for that.
"I'm just looking for the perfect place and perfect fit. If that's back with the Niners, that's amazing. If not, I'm ready for new challenges and a new team. So, I'm excited for it all."
Thomas has recorded 95 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, six sacks, and 23 quarterback hits in his four seasons since being drafted, including last year's abbreviated campaign. He hoped to have a breakout season in 2020, but the injury denied him the opportunity.
This is Thomas' second offseason dealing with post-surgery rehab. He said he had two surgeries last year before the season and rehabbed during the offseason before having what he felt was a strong training camp.
What does Thomas feel a "perfect place and perfect fit" looks like?
"For me, I'm a player who's explosive (and) quick," Thomas responded. "I'm a quote, unquote undersized defensive tackle, but I have great leverage. I get off the ball. I can get into guards quickly, and I get to the quarterbacks. That's what I'm trying to do, and find a place who's going to use my skills to the best. And I'm just excited for that."
You can listen to the entire interview with Thomas below.
