He signed with San Diego in June as a possible replacement for Marcus McNeill, who is holding out.
"I was just watching film and I don't think I was playing as well in practice as I should be," said Thomas, who entered the NFL as a first-round pick of Philadelphia in 1998. "If I'm not playing well in practice, I'm not going to play up to my standard in a game ... I feel very good about the decision. I 'm going out on my own terms. At least, I know I gave it everything I could."
Thomas played with Jacksonville last season after spending 10 seasons with the Eagles.
He said he appreciates the chance San Diego gave him, but he thought it was best to leave the game.
"I could have milked it for a year," Thomas said. "But I have too much respect for the game to do that."
With McNeill holding out, the Chargers will start Brandyn Dombrowski at left tackle. San Diego likely will study the waiver wire in the next couple of weeks to help depth at the position while McNeill sits out.
Even if McNeill ended his holdout, general manager A.J. Smith placed him on the roster exempt list on Friday, meaning he'll be suspended for three games once he signs his contract tender.
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