New Orleans Saints fans who were excited about the return of wide receiver Michael Thomas got a little bit of a scare Sunday when the receiver did not participate in practice. According to head coach Dennis Allen, Thomas is “dealing with a little bit of a hamstring” injury.
Nick Underhill, who covers the Saints, was the first to report the injury:
DA said Mike Thomas has a hamstring injury.
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) August 21, 2022
Thomas missed the entire 2021 season after undergoing surgery on a lingering ankle injury he suffered during the 2020 season. He played just seven games during the 2020 campaign, making five starts. That season, Thomas caught 40 passes for 438 yards, and did not reach the end zone.
That brought to a close four-straight years with over 100 receptions, and five-straight seasons with over 1,000 yards receiving. Thomas broke into the NFL in 2016, when he caught 92 passes for 1,137 yards and nine touchdowns. His career year came back in 2019, when he caught 149 passes for 1,725 yards and nine touchdowns, and was awarded the AP Offensive Player of the Year. Thomas became the first wide receiver to secure the award since Jerry Rice in 1993.
