If there's anyone who knows injury and heartache, it's Thomas Davis.
The Carolina Panthers linebacker, who has suffered three torn ACLs in his football career, also knows determination. That should serve him well, too, as he faces his latest hurdle — a broken right arm.
Davis suffered the injury in the Panthers' 49-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals while attempting to tackle the Cardinals' Darren Fells. Davis went into the locker room for X-rays before returning to the sideline with his arm heavily wrapped.
The hope, Davis said after the game, was to find a way to face the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.
Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis says he has a broken forearm. Still hopes to play in the Super Bowl.
— Steve Reed (@SteveReedAP) January 25, 2016
The Pro Bowler Davis had been having a fantastic game, with six tackles (two for losses) 20 minutes into the game, before getting hurt. Luke Kuechly might be the face of the Panthers' defense, but Davis is the heartbeat. He's the veteran that the rest of the unit feeds off of.
Missing all but nine games over a three years from 2009 to 2011, Davis' career easily could have gone into the tank. But he fought through annual pain and heartache to forge an incredible second act of a career.

It would be hard not to imagine Davis telling the Panthers' medical staff to cast up his arm and let him go out there against the Broncos, even as far-fetched as a two-week recovery time might appear on the surface.

- - - - - - -
Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm