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Saints wish Michael Thomas had ankle surgery earlier
Michael Thomas will miss the start of the season due to this ankle issue. Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Saints wish WR Michael Thomas would've had ankle surgery earlier

It was reported last Friday that New Orleans Saints star wide receiver Michael Thomas would miss the start of the upcoming regular season after he underwent ankle surgery in June to repair an issue that bothered him throughout the 2020 campaign, and a later story said the two-time All-Pro could begin Week 1 in September on the physically unable to perform list and, thus, be out through the season's first six weeks. 

Understandably, some fans and observers wondered why Thomas didn't have the procedure done earlier in the winter or spring. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis attempted to clear the air on the subject when speaking with reporters Wednesday: 

Loomis did not divulge any timetable for Thomas' potential return to action: 

Head coach Sean Payton also expressed frustration over the matter: 

Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill are competing to replace future Hall of Famer Drew Brees as New Orleans' starting quarterback. Whoever wins the gig should only play better with Thomas on the field, but it remains unclear when that may happen either this summer or fall.  

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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