SEATTLE -- Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas drew a sharp response from teammate Bobby Wagner for his contention that Wagner shouldn't have played Sunday on an injured hamstring.
In a since-deleted tweet, Wagner told Thomas to "keep my name out yo mouth."
Thomas was asked how much injures caught up to the Seahawks' defense in their 42-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at CenturyLink Field, their most lopsided defeat in eight seasons under coach Pete Carroll. The Seahawks have lost cornerback Richard Sherman, strong safety Kam Chancellor and defensive end Cliff Avril to season-ending injuries. They were missing one of their Pro Bowl linebackers on Sunday in K.J. Wright (concussion), while the other, Wagner, was noticeably affected by his hamstring injury.
"To be totally honest," Thomas said, "I think the guys that played, you've got to give your hats off to Wags and a couple guys that played, but my personal opinion, I don't think they should have played. I think the backups would have did just as good. But the injuries -- Kam, Sherm, K.J. -- they definitely hurt today."
Thomas was asked how much Wagner seemed to be slowed on Sunday.
"I have no clue," he said. "But you normally see Wags running from sideline to sideline, and he just couldn't do it today. But I think he just waited a little bit too long to take himself out."
Wagner tweeted and then deleted: "E keep my name out yo mouth. Stop being jealous of other people success. I still hope you keep balling bro."
Wagner has been in the conversation for defensive player of the year, despite a hamstring that has been giving him trouble for several weeks. He re-injured it last Sunday, which caused him to miss much of the second half of Seattle's loss at the Jacksonville Jaguars. Wagner has hardly practiced of late in order to rest his hamstring. He missed all three of Seattle's practices leading up to Sunday's game.
Wagner was credited with seven tackles against the Rams before he left the game with around five minutes left in the third quarter, with Seattle trailing 40-0.
Carroll appreciated Wagner playing as long as he did.
"In warrior-like fashion, he rose to the occasion to play," Carroll said. "He felt good in pregame. He had to try to find a way that he could play, and he did. I couldn't admire him more in trying to help his team in every way that he could."