Saints All-Pro WR Michael Thomas (ankle) practices on limited basis

New Orleans Saints All-Pro wide receiver Michael Thomas wasn't a full participant on Wednesday as he works to recover from the high-ankle sprain he suffered in the season-opening 34-23 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he did practice on a limited basis. 

New Orleans had avoided placing the 27-year-old on injured reserve because of the rule for the 2020 season that forces players on IR to miss a minimum of three games. It's not yet known if Thomas, the 2019 Offensive Player of the Year, will take the field against the Detroit Lions on Sunday. 

As Mike Triplett wrote for ESPN, the Saints enter Week 4 of the campaign at 1-2 and last in the NFL in yards accumulated by receivers (283). Without Thomas in the lineup, running back Alvin Kamara was Drew Brees' favorite target in prime-time losses to the Las Vegas Raiders and Green Bay Packers. 

Kamara offered some hope on Thomas' status, telling reporters after Wednesday's practice:

"He looked good out there, so hopefully he feels ready enough to play. I know he's been itching to play. If it was up to him, he would've tried to play the last two weeks. But obviously when you're dealing with injury, you gotta do what you gotta do to get healthy so you don't set yourself back."

The Lions (1-2) won their first game of the campaign last Sunday via a 26-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.