Joe Thomas reportedly had an impressive audition with Fox Sports

Cleveland Browns left tackle Joe Thomas reportedly had an audition with Fox Sports, the latest signal that the end is in sight for the 10-year veteran.

The Cleveland Browns know that the end is near for left tackle Joe Thomas.

But could it be coming sooner than expected?

According to Andrew Marchand at The New York Post, Thomas recently had an “impressive” audition with Fox Sports:

"In more Fox news, the network had current Browns lineman Joe Thomas and former Bears coach John Fox in for auditions, according to sources. Thomas was particularly impressive, according to one source. The two are being considered for a variety of roles on both Fox and Fox Sports 1. Thomas also went through the ESPN “Car Wash” this offseason, which often is used as a tryout of sorts, so don’t rule out Bristol. Thomas has not decided yet if he will play next season."

Yikes!

Thomas has been one of the game’s best left tackles ever since the Browns selected him with the third overall selection in the 2007 NFL Draft. He played every offensive snap until suffering a torn tricep during a game last October against the Tennessee Titans.

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Since then, speculation has focused on Thomas choosing to retire as he has become more vocal (and entertaining) on Twitter, started the popular ThomaHawk Show podcast with former teammate Andrew Hawkins and, as Marchand reported, started to explore life as a broadcaster once he decides his NFL career has come to a close.

To his credit, Thomas has said that he will let the Browns know if he will return for the 2018 season in time for the club to find his replacement.

The Browns and quarterback DeShone Kizer got a taste of what life is like without Thomas in the lineup over the second half of the 2017 season. Second-year guard Spencer Drango did his best filling in for Thomas, but Drango is better suited as a backup guard than a starting left tackle, so life was not easy for Kizer or the offense.

Even before his season-ending injury, Thomas had entered the stage of his career where he was basically playing year to year. He has dealt with knee and back injuries that have limited his practice time, and has talked openly about already experiencing some memory loss after a decade in the NFL.

The news that Thomas is exploring broadcasting opportunities is not a surprise, although it does highlight just how close he is to the end of his Hall of Fame career.

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It also sends a strong signal to general manager John Dorsey that it is time to start looking seriously at the left tackle market in free agency and the upcoming NFL Draft.