Yeah not buying that spin. The timing is too much of a coincidence. He played with the injury for however long. There was no harm in him backing up for 1 more game.
If you backup you have to be prepared to go in. Thompson could've gotten hurt and it's facing 20 or more shots again after the team doctor recommends shoulder, and apparently knee surgery.
The team was likely coaxing him to keep going before they felt confident enough in Thompson, I don't see that as something to use against him now, and injuries that needed surgery over two months ago and then get pelted with pucks do tend to get worse with time.
I don't see how it's quitting on the team. If he's called out publicly by Deboer multiple games in a row, pulled after letting one goal on thirteen shots and then implied his teammates had no confidence in him then why not admit you couldn't play to your ability and may be a detriment to the team so the best thing you can do is get healthy and let the young guy on a hot streak, or at least hotter than you, take over?