There’s been a hiccup in Michael Thomas’s journey back from an injury that’s cost him most of two seasons, with New Orleans Saints coach Dennis Allen saying Sunday evening that the All-Pro wide receiver missed the team’s final training camp practice with what he described as “a little bit of a hamstring.”
When this new injury occurred isn’t clear — Thomas participated fully in two joint practices with the Green Bay Packers last week, but sat out of their Friday night preseason game alongside a small crowd of other veteran players. Sunday’s session in the Caesars Superdome was the final practice of Saints training camp.
Thomas has been recovering from an ankle injury, but it isn’t immediately clear if this issue is affecting the same leg. Whether or not that’s the case, hamstring injuries can linger, and it’s wise of the team to play it safe with someone expected to shoulder a heavy load this season. It’s been an impressive camp for Thomas so far. He was our pick as the team’s best player of the summer, rapidly improving until this setback. Hopefully he can return sooner rather than later.
In the meantime, the Saints have seen their investments pay off with maybe the strongest receiving corps in recent memory: those behind Thomas on the depth chart include roster locks like Jarvis Landry, Chris Olave, and Deonte Harty and good players on the roster bubble such as Tre’Quan Smith, Marquez Callaway, Kirk Merritt, and Kevin White. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see other teams poach Kawaan Baker, Dai’Jean Dixon, and Rashid Shaheed should they hit the waiver wire, either.
