The Advocate headline seemed emphatic. Source: DT Thomas out for year with torn biceps.

The sympathetic quotes seemed so significant, like an obituary for Quentin Thomas’ 2014 season.

“He’s a great friend of mine. I felt terrible when I heard about it,” Christian LaCouture said.

Said Paul Broussard, Thomas’ high school coach: It’s a sad thing. He was looking forward to the season.”

The date? Aug. 13, 2014.

Back to Quentin Thomas and his torn biceps: He tore it in practice while trying to tackle …. Leonard Fournette. #LSU — Ross Dellenger (@DellengerAdv) September 3, 2014

Seventeen days later, Thomas started at defensive tackle against Wisconsin.

“All the team doctors looked at me — they must have each looked at me three times — and they had no explanation for it,” Thomas said, according to The Daily Reveille. “I told [athletic trainer] Andy Barker, I told him in the past that I heal fast, and I was just joking, but apparently I do.”

Playing with a torn biceps tendon isn’t unheard of. Adrian Wilson, Terrell Suggs and Stephen Cooper are among recent NFL players to do the same. The severity of the injury varies. But it’s rare to keep playing, let alone well.

The trainers conducted strength tests on Thomas and were surprised with the results, leaving the surgery vs. rehab decision to Thomas, The Daily Reveille reported.

Q Thomas playing w/ torn biceps. Thought for days he'd miss season. Healed somewhat magically. Doctors: "We’ve never seen this before." #LSU — Ross Dellenger (@DellengerAdv) September 3, 2014

Thomas says there's not pain while playing, more of a "simple aggravation," he said. "It's something I can play through." #LSU — Ross Dellenger (@DellengerAdv) September 3, 2014

“The week before, I was out for the season,” Thomas said. “And then the next week, it was I might be back at some point during the season. And then come game time, I’m out here for the first game of the year. Being out there was something special.”

Backup Frank Herron didn’t play against Wisconsin as LSU operated with a shortened rotation at defensive tackle. Coach Les Miles indicated that Herron, a redshirt freshman, didn’t have a good enough grasp on the week’s game plan. Expect Herron to see the field against Sam Houston State on Saturday, but Thomas, a junior, should continue to hold down the starting position.