METAIRIE, La. – New Orleans Saints quarterback Michael Thomas will miss the last three games of the regular season due to his persistent ankle injury, but the Saints are waiting almost 100% for the playoffs to begin, sources for Adam Schefter of ESPN said on Saturday.
Thomas will be placed in the injured reserve, sources told ESPN, which means he must miss at least three games. He had been playing with an ankle injury since returning in week 9.
Thomas’ ankle simply did not improve with training and games, sources told ESPN. He did not train at all this week before being ruled out for Sunday’s flagship clash against Kansas City bosses in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
The moment is unfortunate for a Saints team that has just recovered defender Drew Brees from his own four-game IR season this week. This dynamic offensive duo has only played in two full games together this season.
The Saints (10-3) are currently placed at No. 2 in the NFC as they would lose a draw to the Green Bay Packers (10-3).
Thomas, who was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2019 with a league record of 149 catches, has only played in seven games this season. He initially suffered a sprained ankle in the final minutes of his Week 1 victory over Tampa Bay.
When he was about to return to the team, Thomas was signed up for a game as a discipline for a practical altercation that included him hitting teammate CJ Gardner-Johnson. Then he suffered a hamstring injury that removed him for another two weeks.
However, Thomas has been productive since returning from injury. In the last six games – four of them with backup QB Taysom Hill – Thomas has 37 catches for 421 yards, but no touchdowns.
“I’m proud of him because I know it was a matter of working back,” Saints coach Sean Payton said last week. “He’s still trying to reach 100%. Obviously, the injury he had was significant. But, man, he came here with some great games. And for a new defender in the range, to have that target and someone who he will go down with the ball, play games, that’s a great thing “.