Saints optimistic Michael Thomas will be ready for training camp

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas. Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Saints HC Dennis Allen: 'Certainly our plan' for two-time All-Pro WR Michael Thomas to be ready for training camp

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 5/26/22

Among all current NFL quarterbacks, Jameis Winston has a reputation as having one of the highest penchants for airing it out and fitting the term "gunslinger," as evidenced by his nearly 21,000 career passing yards and 135 passing touchdowns in 83 regular season games. Last year, during his injury-halted campaign with the New Orleans Saints, Winston threw for 1,170 yards and 14 scores in just seven contests.

On Thursday, Saints head coach Dennis Allen gave a promising update on Winston's recovery from a torn ACL and damage to his MCL. Ideally, "Who Dat" Nation will be seeing the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer hook up with a certain former Pro Bowler who was one of the premier wideouts in the game when he last suited up during the 2020 season.

That player -- two-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler Michael Thomas -- appeared in 48 straight regular season games during his second, third and fourth years in the league from 2017-19, but was limited to seven contests in 2020 due to an ankle injury. Thomas missed the entire 2021 campaign due the ailment as well, but Allen had an update on the 29-year-old on Thursday.

Dennis Allen on WR Michael Thomas' rehab: "I think he's doing well in his rehab. He's not ready yet, but he's here, he's rehabbing, getting himself better and we're certainly anxious to get him out here."

Will he be ready for training camp?: "That's certainly our plan."
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 26, 2022

Since being selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Thomas has gathered 510 receptions for 5,950 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns on 657 targets in 70 regular season tilts. The former Ohio St. Buckeye recorded four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons from 2016-19 and three straight campaigns with at least 100 catches from 2017-19.

His last full season in 2019 was also his best, as he won the AP Offensive Player of the Year Award by leading the league in receptions (149), receiving yards (1,725) and receiving yards per game (107.8).

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