This was previously reported by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, but it’s reassuring to hear it from the head coach himself. Dennis Allen was asked for a status update on Michael Thomas during his press conference before the start of New Orleans Saints training camp, and he made it clear that Thomas expects to see the practice field early and often.
“Our expectation is Mike’s going to be a full participant,” Allen said. “Look, he came in last Thursday, did his physical, went through the conditioning test. Looked great. Moved around awesome. He’s in good shape. Yeah, our expectation is Mike will be a full participant, and if I’m not mistaken that’s what Mike said he would do when he left (the facility) back in the spring. Generally when Mike sets his mind to something he gets it done.”
A dislocated toe ended the 2022 season for Thomas after just three games, in which he ranked among the league’s leaders for receptions, first down conversions, and touchdown catches. That’s after he missed most of the two years prior with a complicated ankle injury and subsequent surgeries. Now he’s looking to prove he’s still as dangerous as any other receiver in the NFL, having gotten healthy and helped recruit Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Carr. Allen is certainly optimistic, which is a reflection of Thomas’s own thinking. Let’s see what he does when the Saints get to work Wednesday afternoon.