San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis shared a message of hope on Monday, ahead of the announcement that his toe injury is season-ending.
The team put Willis on the season-ending injured reserve list on Tuesday due to a muscle strain in his left big toe. Willis will have to undergo surgery to repair the damaged appendage.
The 29-year-old was injured on October 13 in a game against the St. Louis Rams. He rested through bye week, and returned to practice on October 29 in a limited role. Willis did not attend 49ers practice last week.
Although understandably disappointed by the health news, Willis shared a message of encouragement on Twitter that was sent to him from another user.
"If you saw the size of the blessing coming, you would understand the magnitude of the battle you're fighting!" the meme read. "Yes mam! I believe that. Ty," Willis said in response.
Willis is an outspoken Christian, and has discussed his faith in the press and on social media. He said in an interview three years ago that all he has can be taken away at any time.
"I still respect those who played the game before me. I also know that I didn't get here by myself," he told CBN. "I didn't do it on my own. I know that it's truly a blessing. I feel like if it was the Good Lord who put me here it's the Good Lord who blessed me to be able to do what I do.
"I don't want to brag and say, 'Oh yeah, it's me. Oh, look at me. Here I am...' because just as he blessed you today it could be gone tomorrow."
Willis revealed that he prayed that God's will be done before being drafted by the 49ers, and that he continued to pray before each game.
"I just go out there and I always pray, I say, 'Lord, I don't know what today's game is going to be like, but I just pray, I pray that You bless me to go out here and play for You,'" he said. "'Be a soldier for Your army, go out here and lead this team the way You want me to lead it.'
"So each time I play, I don't want to go out there and say, tell people, 'I'm playing for the Lord today.' I just want them to see it and know that when I, whether good, or bad, or indifferent, you know I'm playing for the Lord."
The 49ers are currently 5-4 in the NFC Western Division, and will face the Giants on Sunday.
