The National Football League on Wednesday announced that it has lifted the suspension of free-agent wide receiver Michael Thomas. Thomas was suspended for the first game of the 2024 NFL season for an incident with a construction worker near his home last year. The fact that the 31-year-old remained without a team all offseason is a sign that he may struggle to latch on with an organization despite the fact that he's past his one-game suspension. Just several years ago, Thomas was the best receiver in the league, but injuries have limited him to 20 games since the start of the 2020 campaign, and he played in just 10 games with the New Orleans Saints last year before a knee injury ended his season. He caught 39 passes for 448 yards and one touchdown in 2023. Thomas belongs on the waiver wire in all leagues and is unlikely to be on the fantasy radar in 2024.
Sep 11, 2024 8:40 PM EST
The NFL suspended free-agent wide receiver Michael Thomas (knee) for the first week of the 2024 regular season for violating the league's personal-conduct policy related to an incident with a construction worker from last fall. Things continue to get worse for Thomas, who was the best receiver in the NFL as recent as 2019. While it's only a one-game suspension, it's not going to help the 31-year-old veteran's cause as he looks to find a new team for the 2024 season. He was cut by the New Orleans Saints back in March after catching 39 of his 64 targets for 448 yards and just one touchdown. A knee injury limited Thomas to only 10 games (seven starts), and he hasn't played in over 10 games in a season since his All-Pro campaign in 2019. Even if Thomas does land with another team, he will merely be competing for a depth role.
Aug 30, 2024 6:15 PM EST
Free-agent wide receiver Michael Thomas remains without a team. However, that could change, with Zachary Smith of the Steelers Afternoon Drive reporting that Pittsburgh has been in contact with the veteran. Thomas was once the NFL's top wideout. He's appeared in 83 regular season games, totaling 565 catches for 6,569 yards and 36 touchdowns. Unfortunately, Thomas hasn't had a productive season in years. But there could still be gas left in the tank of the 31-year-old, and he might get plenty of work for the Steelers if he signs. With that said, there should be more updates, so fantasy managers should continue to monitor the situation moving ahead.
May 18, 2024 9:37 PM EST
Wide receiver Michael Thomas (knee) is no longer under contract with the New Orleans Saints, according to a source, and is now officially a free agent. It was a formality this offseason since his deal was only really for one year. The 31-year-old was designated as a post-June 1 cut by the Saints. Thomas missed the final seven games of the 2023 season due to a knee injury and isn't likely to have a very robust market given all of the injuries he's endured since leading the NFL in receptions (149) and receiving yards (1,725) in 2019, the last year he was named to the Pro Bowl. Since then, the former second-round pick by the Saints in 2016 out of Ohio State has played in only 20 games and has caught 95 passes for 1,057 yards and four touchdowns.
Mar 13, 2024 5:56 PM EST
The New Orleans Saints are expected to release Michael Thomas this offseason, according to Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com. The team is expected to make the move before the beginning of the 2024 new league year on March 13 as they will owe him all of his $119 million future bonus if he is on the roster on March 15. Thomas has appeared in just 20 games over the past three seasons. The veteran should be able to land with another team as a free-agent, although he may have to settle for a one-year deal to prove he can stay healthy. Thomas will leave New Orleans with 565 receptions for 6,569 yards and 36 touchdowns over seven seasons.
Mar 7, 2024 7:36 PM EST
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (knee) and cornerback Marshon Lattimore (ankle) will not return from the Injured Reserve list to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17. Both players were placed on IR after the Week 10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and have missed the last five games. It's an unfortunate development for New Orleans heading into a must-win matchup to keep their postseason hopes alive. With Thomas remaining out, Rashid Shaheed will continue to see more looks. Mike Evans has struggled against Lattimore in recent seasons, so the veteran cornerback's continued absence might be even more troubling.
Dec 26, 2023 2:28 PM EST
New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen said he doesn't expect the team to open the practice windows for wide receiver Michael Thomas (knee) or cornerback Marshon Lattimore (ankle) this week. It means that neither player is going to return from Injured Reserve to play in the team's Week 16 contest on Thursday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams. Both Thomas and Lattimore are in the rehab process and don't have a firm timetable for a return. Thomas has spent the required four games on IR but won't be able to return until the Week 17 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Christmas Eve at the earliest. Lattimore is set to miss his fifth straight game as well this week. If Chris Olave (ankle) misses his second straight game on Thursday, Rashid Shaheed and rookie A.T. Perry will once again operate as the team's top two wideouts.
Dec 18, 2023 7:42 PM EST
NewOrleans.Football's Nick Underhill expects New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (knee) to return this year. Thomas is currently on Injured Reserve with a right-knee injury and must miss two more games before he's eligible to return. It's good news for the oft-injured 30-year-old wideout, but a return for the final three games of the 2023 regular season isn't going to help fantasy managers at all. Although Thomas had just one touchdown in 10 games before his injury, he was serving as a steady No. 2 wideout for New Orleans behind Chris Olave with 39 receptions (64 targets) for 448 receiving yards. The Saints have struggled to replace Thomas with Rashid Shaheed (thigh) and rookie A.T. Perry, with running back Alvin Kamara mostly benefitting from an even larger pass-catching role in the last two games without Thomas in the mix.
Dec 8, 2023 7:29 PM EST
The New Orleans Saints are placing wide receiver Michael Thomas (knee) on Injured Reserve, which means that he will be forced to miss at least the next four games. Head coach Dennis Allen said on Monday that Thomas' knee injury was going to keep him out for some time, but now we know it will be at least for the next four games. It means that fantasy managers won't have him to close out their regular season and they might not even be able to count on him if they make the postseason. The 30-year-old injured his right knee on the first offensive play in Week 10 and was eventually ruled out for the rest of the game. Until Thomas is able to return, Rashid Shaheed and rookie A.T. Perry will see more targets through the air behind target hog Chris Olave. Tight end Juwan Johnson also becomes more attractive as a TE streamer.
Nov 21, 2023 4:04 PM EST
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (knee) exited the Week 10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings early due to a knee injury. The Saints were off in Week 11 because of a bye, but the veteran wideout's injury could keep him out of Week 12 and beyond. Head coach Dennis Allen said his injury is "gonna take some time" but wouldn't specify whether a stint on the Injured Reserve list is a possibility. Thomas has appeared in all ten of the Saints' games this year, catching 39 of his 64 targets for 448 yards and one touchdown. He hasn't been overly productive, but he's remained on the fantasy radar. As long as he is out, expect Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed to see more targets. However, tight ends Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill could also see more looks, and the Saints signed Marquez Callaway this week. It's worth noting quarterback Derek Carr (concussion) remains in concussion protocol.
Nov 20, 2023 2:20 PM EST
New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen said that wide receiver Michael Thomas (knee) suffered a "fairly significant" knee injury in the Week 10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. A week after not catching a single pass in Week 9, Thomas caught one of his two targets for a nine-yard gain against Minnesota before leaving the game and never returning. The Saints have a well-timed bye in Week 11, but if the 30-year-old's injury is serious enough, he might not be ready to return in Week 12 to take on the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 26. Rasheed Shaheed and rookie A.T. Perry would both take on bigger roles in the Saints' passing attack behind Chris Olave if Thomas is forced to miss any time coming out of the bye week.
Nov 13, 2023 6:14 PM EST
New Orleans Saints tight end Michael Thomas (knee) has been downgraded to out for the remainder of Sunday's game versus the Minnesota Vikings. He departed in the first half and will finish Week 10 with two targets, one catch, and nine receiving yards. The Saints should have no trouble spreading the ball around without Thomas, relying on the likes of Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Taysom Hill, Alvin Kamara, and Juwan Johnson. Fortunately for Thomas, the Saints have a Week 11 bye, giving him extra time to recover before his next game.
Nov 12, 2023 3:00 PM EST
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (knee) is questionable to return in Week 10 against the Minnesota Vikings after getting hurt in the first quarter. There was some concern as to whether Thomas would even play this weekend after he was arrested on Friday night on misdemeanor charges of simple battery and criminal mischief for his alleged involvement in an altercation with a man performing construction work in his neighborhood. The 30-year-old ended up suiting up and caught one of his two targets for a nine-yard gain on Sunday before injuring his knee. If Thomas is unable to return, Rasheed Shaheed will have even more opportunities to make noise in the passing game behind No. 1 wideout Chris Olave.
Nov 12, 2023 1:52 PM EST
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas, who was arrested on Friday night after allegedly pushing and threatening a contractor, will make the trip to Minnesota and will play on Sunday in Week 10 against the Vikings. The Vikings are going to let the legal process play out, but the 30-year-old veteran wideout could eventually face discipline from the league down the road. Off-the-field issues aside, Thomas will be looking to bounce back this weekend in a great matchup after he put up a donut for his fantasy managers (no catches on just one target) in the Week 9 win over the Chicago Bears. Thomas will be a fine WR4/flex play in Week 10 against a Minnesota defense that allows the 11th-most half-PPR fantasy points to opposing receivers in 2023.
Nov 11, 2023 12:01 PM EST
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas had a rare dud in Week 9, as the veteran failed to record any stats on just one target. Thomas had been a stable floor play each week before the unexpected dud and should return to form in Week 10 against a Minnesota secondary surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers. Thomas averaged nearly eight targets per game prior to last week and is likely to be a part of the game plan against a pass-funnel defense. Trust Thomas as what should be a safe floor flex option in Week 10.
Nov 10, 2023 1:58 PM EST
New Orleans Saints veteran wide receiver Michael Thomas had his worst game of the season on Sunday against Chicago. Thomas was targeted once and did not catch the pass, finishing the game with no receptions or yards. Fantasy managers who started the veteran receiver were undoubtedly disappointed, as he has been a consistent option all season. Thomas will look to bounce back in Week 10 against the Minnesota Vikings.
Nov 5, 2023 10:24 PM EST
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (illness) practiced in full on Thursday and Friday and has officially been removed from the Week 9 injury report. He will suit up and play on Sunday against the Chicago Bears in a great matchup. The Bears defense has surrendered nine touchdowns to opposing wide receivers so far in 2023, so the 30-year-old Thomas could feast this weekend as the Saints look for another victory at the Superdome. He found the end zone for the first time in the Week 7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and caught four of seven targets for a season-high 68 yards in last week's win over the Indianapolis Colts while he was under the weather. It's possible that Thomas could put up his best game in Week 9.
Nov 3, 2023 4:11 PM EST
After he was limited with an illness on Wednesday, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas put in a full practice on Thursday. Thomas played through his illness in the Week 8 win over the Indianapolis Colts and caught four of his seven targets for 68 yards. The 30-year-old should be feeling better this weekend and is looking at an excellent matchup against a Chicago Bears defense that loves to let receivers find the end zone against them. Thomas, who is obviously no longer in his prime, still has enough left to be a regular weekly lineup option as the No. 2 behind Chris Olave. In eight games this year, Thomas has 38 receptions for 439 yards and one touchdown on his 61 targets.
Nov 2, 2023 6:03 PM EST
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (illness) was limited at practice on Wednesday. The veteran wideout is recovering from an illness, according to head coach Dennis Allen, and he's expected to start participating fully in practice as the week goes on. It sounds like Thomas isn't in any danger of missing the Saints' Week 9 game against the Chicago Bears. Fantasy managers should still keep an eye on his practice status over the next few days, however. For the season, Thomas has 38 catches (61 targets) for 439 yards and one touchdown. He's been remarkably consistent this season and due to his safe floor, he should be viewed as a high-end WR3 on Sunday.
Nov 1, 2023 6:14 PM EST
New Orleans Saints veteran receiver Michael Thomas had another relatively productive day in Sunday's win over the Colts. Thomas was targeted seven times, hauling in four catches for 68 yards. It was his highest yardage mark on the season, eclipsing his 65-yard outing in Week 5. The veteran receiver remains a high-floor, low-ceiling flex option as he has seen between six-to-nine targets in every single game thus far.
Oct 30, 2023 11:56 AM EST
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