MICHAEL THOMAS NEWS

Remains limited at practice Thomas (ankle/hamstring) was a limited practice participant Thursday

Impact Thomas now has logged back-to-back capped practices to begin Week 9 prep, but he also did the same last week before being ruled out for a sixth consecutive game. It stands to wonder if the Saints want him to take the field without limitations before clearing him to return from a Grade 1 hamstring strain and left ankle injury. In any case, clarity could arrive on that front as soon as Friday, when New Orleans will post its final injury report of the week.

NOVEMBER 5, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Begins week with limited practice Thomas (ankle/hamstring) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

Impact Thomas managed to resume practicing on a limited basis last week, but his Grade 1 hamstring strain and lingering left ankle injury nonetheless caused him to miss a sixth straight game. As such, the star wideout's status for Week 9 remains murky even though he appears to be making progress. Drew Brees (shoulder) and Alvin Kamara (foot) were both also limited Wednesday, so there are numerous question marks surrounding New Orleans' key offensive players heading into a Sunday night matchup against the Buccaneers.

NOVEMBER 4, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Won't play this week Thomas (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game in Chicago, Luke Johnson of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Impact Marquez Callaway (ankle) and Emmanuel Sanders (reserve/COIVD-19) will also miss the game, leaving Tre'Quan Smith and Deonte Harris as the Saints' top options at wide receiver. Thomas was a limited practice participant Thursday and Friday, perhaps inching toward a return for Week 9 against Tampa Bay or Week 10 against San Francisco. He still hasn't played in a game since the season opener.

OCTOBER 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Returns in limited capacity Thomas (ankle/hamstring) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday.

Impact On the heels of missing four contests with a high-left ankle sprain, Thomas picked up a Grade 1 hamstring strain last week and sat out the Saints' Week 7 win against the Panthers. He appears to be inching toward a return after practicing Thursday, but his availability for Sunday's game at Chicago remains cloudy. That said, Friday's practice report may clear up Thomas' status.

OCTOBER 29, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to practice Thomas (ankle/hamstring) took part in practice Thursday, Amie Just of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Impact With a high-left ankle sprain mostly behind him, Thomas now is dealing with a Grade 1 hamstring strain suffered in practice last week. While he hasn't suited up since Week 1, he's setting himself up for a return to action Sunday at Chicago with his appearance at practice Thursday. Thursday's injury report will inform how much work Thomas was able to handle.

OCTOBER 29, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

No practice Wednesday Thomas (ankle/hamstring) didn't practice Wednesday, Katherine Terrell of The Athletic reports.

Impact It's been an interesting road for Thomas this season, who suffered a high left ankle sprain Week 1 and later a Grade 1 hamstring strain last week as he closed in on his recovery from the first one. On Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Thomas is in danger of sitting out again Sunday in Chicago, and his inability to practice Wednesday tends to back up that sentiment. Still, Thomas has two more chances to prove his health before week's end.

OCTOBER 28, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

May sit out Week 8, too Thomas (ankle/hamstring) is in danger of sitting out the Saints' Week 8 matchup at Chicago on Sunday, Nov. 1, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Impact Thomas sustained a Grade 1 hamstring strain in practice this week that kept him off the practice field Thursday and Friday, and ultimately the Saints ruled him out for Sunday's game against the Panthers. The aforementioned injury has a 1-to-2-week recovery timetable, so there's a distinct chance he's sidelined for a sixth consecutive contest next weekend. In the end, though, Thomas' activity bears watching as New Orleans prepares to visit the Bears.

OCTOBER 25, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Out another week The Saints ruled out Thomas (hamstring/ankle) for Sunday's game against the Panthers.

Impact Thomas started the week as a limited participant but was then held out of practice Thursday and Friday. The lack of activity the past two days isn't a great sign for his Week 8 status, though the Saints haven't determined anything beyond Sunday. With Emmanuel Sanders landing on the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday, Tre'Quan Smith is set up as the team's No. 1 receiver for Week 7, while Deonte Harris and Marquez Callaway also could see a few targets. The team likely will call up a wide receiver from the practice squad, with Austin Carr being the favorite.

OCTOBER 23, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Not looking good for Sunday Thomas (ankle, hamstring) missed practice again Friday, putting his status in serious doubt for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com reports.

Impact After missing three games with a high-ankle sprain and one game for disciplinary reasons, it appears Thomas could be out for another week, this time because of a hamstring injury. He didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, but it is still possible the Saints could list him as questionable on the final injury report.

OCTOBER 23, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Held out of practice Thursday Thomas (ankle/hamstring) didn't practice Thursday.

Impact This week, Thomas has only been seen at the start of Wednesday's practice before walking off the field with a member of the Saints' training staff. After being listed as limited on the first Week 7 report with ankle and hamstring issues, he now has a DNP to his name, which isn't a great sign for his first appearance since Week 1. Ultimately, what Thomas is able to do Friday, if anything, may determine his status for Sunday's game against the Panthers. If he's absent, Emmanuel Sanders and Alvin Kamara will be in line for a healthy dose of targets from Drew Brees.

OCTOBER 22, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Not seen at practice Thomas (hamstring/ankle) wasn't spotted Thursday during the open portion of the Saints' practice, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Unless Thomas fits in some work in the portion of the practice closed to the media, the wideout looks like he'll go down as a non-participant on the Saints' injury report. Though head coach Sean Payton said Wednesday that Thomas won't face any further discipline after he was held out of the team's Week 5 win over the Chargers following an altercation with a teammate, the wideout's health remains uncertain. Thomas had been sidelined for Weeks 2 through 4 with a left high-ankle sprain, but the hamstring might be the greater concern at this point. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Thomas' activity was limited at Wednesday's practice because he tweaked the hamstring during the workout, so his absence Thursday is obviously worrisome. The Saints will presumably reassess Thomas' condition at their final practice of the week Friday before gauging the All-Pro receiver's chances of playing Sunday against the Panthers.

OCTOBER 22, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Hamstring injury surfaces Thomas (ankle/hamstring) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.

Impact Thomas sat out Weeks 2 through 4 due to a high-ankle sprain before missing the Saints' Week 5 win over the Chargers for disciplinary reasons. Coming off a Week 6 bye, Thomas appears to have picked up a hamstring injury. Per Mike Triplett of ESPN.com, coach Sean Payton confirmed the Saints are no longer disciplining Thomas, but Payton declined to state whether the star wideout is on track to play in Sunday's game against the Panthers. It's at least noteworthy that health is now the only thing standing in Thomas' way of returning to the field, and he'll have two more chances to increase his practice activity before the Saints assign him an official injury designation for Week 7.

OCTOBER 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Misses open portion of practice Thomas (ankle) didn't participate in the portion of Wednesday's practice open to the media, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Impact Underhill noted Thomas was present at the start of the session, but he eventually left the field with a member of the Saints' training staff. Earlier Wednesday, coach Sean Payton told Luke Johnson of The New Orleans Times-Picayune that the Saints are no longer disciplining Thomas, but the coach was unsure whether the wide receiver will be available for Sunday's game against the Panthers. It appears Thomas' left ankle still may be bothering him, but confirmation likely won't come until the release of Wednesday's injury report.

OCTOBER 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

No longer facing team discipline Coach Sean Payton said Wednesday that Thomas (ankle) is no longer facing discipline from the team, but the wideout's availability for Sunday's game against the Panthers has yet to...

Impact Thomas hasn't played since Week 1, when he suffered an ankle injury. He then appeared to be on track to return to action in Week 5 against the Chargers, but he was held out for disciplinary reasons after being involved in a practice altercation with teammate C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Added clarity with regard to Thomas' chances of playing Sunday should arrive upon the release of the Saints' initial Week 7 injury report later Wednesday.

OCTOBER 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

DNP not injury-related Week 5 The Saints ruled out Thomas (ankle) for Monday's game versus the Chargers due to a non-injury-related reason.

Impact When word trickled out that Thomas wasn't returning Week 5 after being listed as limited on injury reports Thursday through Saturday, it was believed to be tied to his left high ankle sprain. Instead, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports Thomas had "an altercation with a teammate at practice" this weekend. Thomas thus has been disciplined by the Saints, leaving his next potential game Oct. 25 against the Panthers. In the short term, New Orleans will turn to wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders, Tre'Quan Smith, Marquez Callaway and Bennie Fowler.

OCTOBER 11, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Won't return Week 5 The Saints have ruled out Thomas (ankle) for Monday's contest against the Chargers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Impact Even if the Saints likely believe he can handle the rigors of a game at the moment, keeping Thomas on the sideline for a fourth consecutive game seems like a prudent one with a Week 6 bye on tap. He'll thus have two more weeks to get past the high left ankle sprain that he sustained in the regular-season opener, with an eye toward returning Sunday, Oct. 25 versus the Panthers. On Monday, New Orleans will roll with Emmanuel Sanders, Tre'Quan Smith, Marquez Callaway and Bennie Fowler at wide receiver.

OCTOBER 11, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Trending toward Monday start Thomas (ankle) is listed as questionable for Monday's contest against the Chargers, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Impact Things finally appear to be trending in a positive direction as Katherine Terrell of The Athletic thinks Thomas will inevitably suit up against the Chargers after a three-week absence. It's worth noting the 27-year-old was also a limited participant in practice all last week before eventually being ruled out, although the Saints have seemingly been operating with a three-week timetable ever since the injury occurred. Unfortunately fantasy managers likely won't have complete confidence inserting Thomas into their starting lineups until closer to the 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff, though multiple games occurring Monday and Tuesday should allow for some lineup flexibility if a surprising decision is made regarding the star wideout's status.

OCTOBER 10, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Limited in practice again Thomas (ankle) was a limited practice participant Friday, Rod Walker of The Times-Picayune reports.

Impact Thomas was limited in each practice last week and seems to be following the same routine ahead of Monday's matchup with the Chargers. A full practice Saturday would set him up for a likely return, while another limited session could correspond with a questionable tag and a game-time decision. Thomas was ruled out on the Friday injury report last week, so it would be a sign of progress if he's listed as questionable this time around, even if he doesn't end up playing.

OCTOBER 9, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Still limited at practice Thomas (ankle) was limited at practice Thursday, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Impact Thomas maintained his activity from last week, but with a bit more time to prepare with a Monday night game on tap, he seems to be trending toward a return to action against the Chargers. He'll have two more chances to work in full before the Saints post their final Week 5 injury report Saturday.

OCTOBER 8, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Won't return this week Thomas (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game in Detroit, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

Impact Thomas was a limited practice participant Wednesday through Friday, potentially setting him up for a return Week 5 against the Chargers on Monday Night Football. His Saints will first take on a major challenge, as TE Jared Cook (groin) and four other starters also have been ruled out for Sunday in Detroit. The Saints have been using Tre'Quan Smith, Emmanuel Sanders and Deonte Harris as their main grouping for three-wide formations, with Bennie Fowler also chipping in the occasional snap. Alvin Kamara figures to have another busy Sunday, while rookie tight end Adam Trautman could take on the majority of Cook's vacated snaps.

OCTOBER 2, 2020 • ROTOWIRE