Bruce Arians calls Broncos chop block 'dirtiest play I've ever seen'

DENVER – Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians had harsh words for Denver Broncos tight end Julius Thomas after Thomas threw a block in a third quarter that injured Cardinals' defensive end Calais Campbell.

"I've been coaching for 37 years and it's the dirtiest play I've ever seen in the National Football League," Arians said. "It was a flat chop block that put him out of the game. I've never seen anything like it."

Arians said Campbell was initially diagnosed with a sprained medial collateral ligament, and could miss four weeks. Arians said Campbell may have suffered a partial tear of the MCL.

"Somebody has to answer to that," Arians said. "A fine isn't going to do it when he's going to miss three or four weeks on a blatant chop block."

Clady was flagged for the chop block, a penalty flag that wiped out a 77-yard touchdown pass from Peyton Manning to Demaryius Thomas.

Julius Thomas was informed of Arians' comments as he left Denver's locker room, and the tight end told USA TODAY Sports he didn't intend to commit a chop block. Thomas said he had a miscommunication with Clady about who was supposed to block Campbell.

"I guarantee that being dirty is not a part of my game, and to intentionally hurt somebody is not something I would ever do," Thomas said.

Thomas said he sought out Arizona cornerback Antonio Cromartie after the game to deliver an apology to Campbell.

That should come as little solace to the Cardinals, who will now play their next few games without their best run defender. Campbell has emerged as a star in the first four games as he's been able to emerge from the hefty shadow of Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, who is out for the year with a knee injury.

Campbell intercepted Manning in the second quarter and was stopped five yards shy of the end zone on his return when Manning made a diving tackle to trip Campbell up. The Cardinals scored one play later.

Campbell was replaced by rookie Kareem Martin, a third-round pick from Arizona.

"Oh, it changed dramatically," Arians said about his defense without Campbell. "You're talking about a Pro Bowl, great player coming out and putting in a rookie."