Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas could be sidelined for quite some time and maybe for good after suffering a serious leg injury.

NFL Pro-Bowler Thomas hinted that he was contemplating retirement after being carted off the field with a reported lower leg fracture in the first half of Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers.

Using social media, the 27-year-old wrote via Twitter: "This game has been so good to me no regrets.

"A lot is running through my mind including retirement thanks for all the prayers."

Thomas' injury occurred when he and team-mate Kam Chancellor ran into each other trying to intercept a Cam Newton pass. 

Thomas was in good spirits and jokingly followed the first tweet with one that read, "Kam you owe me a steak. Haha."

Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls also was taken out of the game and put into the NFL's concussion protocol, the team announced. He returned midway through the third quarter.