MICHAEL THOMAS NEWS

Laugh at Michael Thomas the fantasy football entity, not the person You can laugh at the person, too, but the cosmic fallout is your own

NOVEMBER 3, 2021 • DEADSPIN.COM

Garafolo: Saints 'extremely frustrated' by how Michael Thomas' injury situation has played out NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports that New Orleans Saints 'extremely frustrated' by how wide receiver Michael Thomas' injury situation has...

NOVEMBER 3, 2021 • NFL.COM

Could require another procedure Saints head coach Sean Payton acknowledged Wednesday that Thomas could require another procedure for his left ankle, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com reports. "I think this isn't anything...

Impact Payton said that Thomas had been "working his tail off" to return at some point during the second half of the season after spending the first eight weeks of the campaign on the reserve/PUP list, but those hopes were dashed after the three-time Pro Bowler recently experienced what Ian Rapoport of NFL Network described as "a new and separate" injury to the same ankle. Thomas initially injured the ankle early Week 1 of last season and proceeded to miss the next six games, only to aggravate the injury coming out of Week 13. He returned for the playoffs, but he didn't look to be in top form before ultimately opting for surgery in June to repair multiple ligaments in the ankle after rest and rehab didn't resolve the matter. In light of his latest setback, the prospect of another procedure clouds the long-term outlook of Thomas, who will turn 29 in March and has yet to get integrated in the New Orleans offense during the post-Drew Brees era.

NOVEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Saints' Michael Thomas out for season after ankle surgery setback Coach Sean Payton said Thomas will need an additional procedure but added that the setback had nothing to do with the receiver’s approach to...

NOVEMBER 3, 2021 • TAMPABAY.COM

Michael Thomas injury update: Saints WR out for the season after setback in recovery from ankle surgery Michael Thomas will not be returning from the PUP list after all.

NOVEMBER 3, 2021 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Done for season Thomas announced Wednesday via his personal Twitter account that he won't play this season after experiencing what he described as a "small setback" in his rehab from offseason lef...

Impact Thomas' decision to rule himself out for 2021 comes after Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported earlier Wednesday that the wideout suffered a "new and separate" injury to the left ankle that left him without a clear timeline to return. While Thomas didn't elaborate on the severity of his setback, it was evidently significant enough for him to rule out a return to the field in the next two months. After playing only seven games in 2020 due to the same ankle issue that later required surgery, Thomas will head into his age-29 campaign in 2022 with a limited track record of playing with quarterbacks other than Drew Brees.

NOVEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Hits snag in recovery Thomas recently experienced a "new and separate" injury with his surgically repaired left ankle, making it uncertain when he'll be ready to return from the reserve/PUP list, Ian Ra...

Impact Thomas has been sidelined all season after undergoing the ankle procedure in June, but he's been eligible to rejoin the Saints since Week 7 after spending the requisite six weeks on the PUP list. Over the past two weeks, the Saints haven't offered much indication that Thomas is getting closer to practicing, and Rapoport relays the wideout's timeline to return to the field remains "unpredictable" after he recently met with a foot/ankle specialist in the wake of his new injury. If and when he does play this season, Thomas likely will be catching passes from Taysom Hill, after incumbent starter Jameis Winston (knee) suffered a season-ending ACL tear Week 8.

NOVEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

When is Michael Thomas returning? Injury details, updates with Saints WR out vs. Seahawks The Saints have been shorthanded at wide receiver without Michael Thomas this year. When might that change?

OCTOBER 25, 2021 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

NFL Week 6 injury watch: Clyde Edwards-Helaire's outlook, checking in on Michael Thomas and more Virginia Zakas of Inside Injuries provides health updates on Antonio Gibson, CEH, Michael Thomas and more fantasy football impact players.

OCTOBER 21, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Fantasy Injury Updates: Latest news on Rob Gronkowski, Michael Thomas, Dallas Goedert, more affecting Week 7 rankings Rob Gronkowski, Michael Thomas, Dallas Goedert, Jerry Jeudy, Kenny Golladay, and Curtis Samuel could be back in Week 7. Get the latest injur...

OCTOBER 19, 2021 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Not expected to return yet Thomas (ankle) still is multiple weeks away from a return, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Impact Thomas began the 2021 season on the PUP list after undergoing left ankle surgery, making him eligible to return as early as Week 7, but it appears as though the star wideout will require a bit more time to rest before resuming practice activities. As the Saints come off a Week 6 bye and look toward a Monday night matchup in Seattle, it appears that Marquez Callaway and Deonte Harris (hamstring) once again are in line to serve as Jameis Winston's top wideouts.

OCTOBER 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

NFL Week 6 injury watch: Antonio Gibson's shin problem, checking in on Michael Thomas and more Virginia Zakas of Inside Injuries provides health updates on Antonio Gibson, CEH, Michael Thomas and more fantasy football impact players.

OCTOBER 15, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

'Top 100 Players of 2020': Michael Thomas ' No. 5 The fifth-year New Orleans Saint is the top-ranked wide receiver in the "Top 100 Players of 2020" after setting the NFL single-season record...

OCTOBER 1, 2021 • NFL.COM

Shifts to reserve/COVID-19 list The Saints transferred Thomas (ankle) from the reserve/PUP list to the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports. He tested positive for the virus, according to Aa...

Impact Thomas becomes the first Saints player to go on the COVID-19 list after the Associated Press reported earlier Tuesday that six unidentified New Orleans coaching staff members and one player tested positive for the virus. Provided he doesn't experience any overly severe symptoms on the virus, Thomas' timeline for making his 2021 debut shouldn't be affected. After opening the campaign on the PUP list while recovering from June surgery on his left ankle, Thomas was already slated to miss the first six weeks of the regular season. He'll first be eligible to return Oct. 25 in Seattle following the Saints' Week 6 bye.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Officially on reserve/PUP list The Saints moved Thomas (ankle) to the reserve/PUP list Tuesday.

Impact As Adam Schefter of ESPN reported earlier Tuesday, Thomas landed on this reserve list, which will sideline him for at least the first six weeks of the campaign. The Saints have a bye Week 6, meaning Thomas will be eligible to return Week 7 in Seattle on Monday, Oct. 25.

AUGUST 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Likely headed for PUP list Thomas (ankle) likely will be placed on the PUP list, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Impact With a four-month timeline estimate after June surgery, Thomas was a strong candidate for the PUP list all along. In this case, the move will rule him out for only five games instead of six, as the Saints have an early bye (Week 6) in 2021. Assuming this move becomes official Tuesday or Wednesday, the star wideout will be ineligible for games until Week 7 at Seattle (Oct. 25).

AUGUST 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Fantasy football mailbag: The dynasty value of Michael Thomas, stacking Chiefs and more Brandon Marianne Lee reaches into her fantasy football mailbag, answering questions regarding Michael Thomas, Travis Kelce and much more.

AUGUST 20, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Should I draft Michael Thomas in 2021 fantasy football leagues? Is Michael Thomas worth drafting in your fantasy football league this year? We break down his fantasy outlook, from the injury concerns to t...

AUGUST 18, 2021 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Saints mailbag, Part 1: What's up with Michael Thomas and the wide receivers? What does the depth look like at receiver for the Saints? How will the QB situation play out the rest of the preseason?

AUGUST 18, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Fantasy Injury Updates: Latest news on Michael Thomas, Rashod Bateman, DeVonta Smith, more WRs ahead of 2021 fantasy drafts Wide receiver injuries are piling up this preseason affecting fantasy rankings and potential sleepers. Get the latest updates and outlooks o...

AUGUST 17, 2021 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Ahead of schedule Coach Sean Payton said Thomas (ankle) is ahead of schedule in his rehab from June surgery, Luke Johnson of The Times-Picayune reports.

Impact Thomas attended the Saints' preseason opener Saturday in Baltimore, the first time reporters had seen him with the team since June minicamp. It's been an interesting summer between the delayed surgery, cryptic tweets and trade rumors, but Thomas does seem to be doing well with his rehab and at least has maintained a working relationship with the Saints for the time being. He'll still miss the early part of the regular season, with most reports earlier this summer putting his timeline at around four months.

AUGUST 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

'Top 100 Players of 2021': Michael Thomas ' No. 72 New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas has been voted as the No. 72 player in the NFL on the "Top 100 Players of 2021" rankings.

AUGUST 15, 2021 • NFL.COM

On trading block? The Saints could be open to trading Thomas (ankle), Larry Holder of The Athletic reports.

Impact Reportedly, there is tension between Thomas and the team that may stem back to Week 1 of last season when the receiver injured his ankle while the Saints were comfortably ahead of the Buccaneers halfway through the fourth quarter. Thomas then allegedly "blew off" the New Orleans medical staff this offseason before finally agreeing to undergo ankle surgery in June, which head coach Sean Payton negatively commented on in public only for Thomas to seemingly fire back on social media. While Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports recently reported that Thomas and Payton may have met to reconcile their issues and that a trade is not coming, a divorce seems inevitable in Holder's opinion, noting the Saints' past willingness to move on from players who may be a distraction in the locker room even if they have to take a financial hit to do so.

AUGUST 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Arizona Cardinals 'ideal' landing spot for Michael Thomas in New Orleans Saints trade One site considers the Arizona Cardinals an 'ideal' landing spot for Michael Thomas in a trade with the New Orleans Saints.

AUGUST 11, 2021 • AZCENTRAL.COM

Just what the heck is Saints' Michael Thomas trying to say with this cryptic sub-tweet? Michael Thomas seems to be sub-tweeting his team, which seems like a bad idea.

AUGUST 9, 2021 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM