The National Football League on Wednesday announced that it has lifted the suspension of free-agent wide receiver Michael Thomas. Thomas was suspended for the first game of the 2024 NFL season for an incident with a construction worker near his home last year. The fact that the 31-year-old remained without a team all offseason is a sign that he may struggle to latch on with an organization despite the fact that he's past his one-game suspension. Just several years ago, Thomas was the best receiver in the league, but injuries have limited him to 20 games since the start of the 2020 campaign, and he played in just 10 games with the New Orleans Saints last year before a knee injury ended his season. He caught 39 passes for 448 yards and one touchdown in 2023. Thomas belongs on the waiver wire in all leagues and is unlikely to be on the fantasy radar in 2024.
The NFL suspended free-agent wide receiver Michael Thomas (knee) for the first week of the 2024 regular season for violating the league's personal-conduct policy related to an incident with a construction worker from last fall. Things continue to get worse for Thomas, who was the best receiver in the NFL as recent as 2019. While it's only a one-game suspension, it's not going to help the 31-year-old veteran's cause as he looks to find a new team for the 2024 season. He was cut by the New Orleans Saints back in March after catching 39 of his 64 targets for 448 yards and just one touchdown. A knee injury limited Thomas to only 10 games (seven starts), and he hasn't played in over 10 games in a season since his All-Pro campaign in 2019. Even if Thomas does land with another team, he will merely be competing for a depth role.
Free-agent wide receiver Michael Thomas remains without a team. However, that could change, with Zachary Smith of the Steelers Afternoon Drive reporting that Pittsburgh has been in contact with the veteran. Thomas was once the NFL's top wideout. He's appeared in 83 regular season games, totaling 565 catches for 6,569 yards and 36 touchdowns. Unfortunately, Thomas hasn't had a productive season in years. But there could still be gas left in the tank of the 31-year-old, and he might get plenty of work for the Steelers if he signs. With that said, there should be more updates, so fantasy managers should continue to monitor the situation moving ahead.
Wide receiver Michael Thomas (knee) is no longer under contract with the New Orleans Saints, according to a source, and is now officially a free agent. It was a formality this offseason since his deal was only really for one year. The 31-year-old was designated as a post-June 1 cut by the Saints. Thomas missed the final seven games of the 2023 season due to a knee injury and isn't likely to have a very robust market given all of the injuries he's endured since leading the NFL in receptions (149) and receiving yards (1,725) in 2019, the last year he was named to the Pro Bowl. Since then, the former second-round pick by the Saints in 2016 out of Ohio State has played in only 20 games and has caught 95 passes for 1,057 yards and four touchdowns.
The New Orleans Saints are expected to release Michael Thomas this offseason, according to Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com. The team is expected to make the move before the beginning of the 2024 new league year on March 13 as they will owe him all of his $119 million future bonus if he is on the roster on March 15. Thomas has appeared in just 20 games over the past three seasons. The veteran should be able to land with another team as a free-agent, although he may have to settle for a one-year deal to prove he can stay healthy. Thomas will leave New Orleans with 565 receptions for 6,569 yards and 36 touchdowns over seven seasons.
Saints, Michael Thomas Appear Headed For A Breakup
No final decision has been made regarding wide receiver Michael Thomas' future with the New Orleans Saints, but at this point the two sides appear to be headed for a breakup after eight seasons together. Thomas played in 10 games in 2023, his most in a single season since he sprained his ankle in Week 1 of the 2020 campaign. The 30-year-old veteran had some big moments but ultimately never topped 70 receiving yards in a single game and suffered another ankle injury that cost him the final seven games of the year. It was Thomas' fourth straight season missing at least seven games. Before his injuries set in, Thomas was on a Hall of Fame trajectory as one of the league's premier playmakers, as he averaged 117.5 catches and 1,378 yards per year in his first four seasons. In four years since, he has just 95 receptions for 1,057 yards and has been limited to 20 games.
Michael Thomas, Marshon Lattimore Won't Return In Week 17
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (knee) and cornerback Marshon Lattimore (ankle) will not return from the Injured Reserve list to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17. Both players were placed on IR after the Week 10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and have missed the last five games. It's an unfortunate development for New Orleans heading into a must-win matchup to keep their postseason hopes alive. With Thomas remaining out, Rashid Shaheed will continue to see more looks. Mike Evans has struggled against Lattimore in recent seasons, so the veteran cornerback's continued absence might be even more troubling.
Michael Thomas, Marshon Lattimore Not Expected To Return This Week
New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen said he doesn't expect the team to open the practice windows for wide receiver Michael Thomas (knee) or cornerback Marshon Lattimore (ankle) this week. It means that neither player is going to return from Injured Reserve to play in the team's Week 16 contest on Thursday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams. Both Thomas and Lattimore are in the rehab process and don't have a firm timetable for a return. Thomas has spent the required four games on IR but won't be able to return until the Week 17 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Christmas Eve at the earliest. Lattimore is set to miss his fifth straight game as well this week. If Chris Olave (ankle) misses his second straight game on Thursday, Rashid Shaheed and rookie A.T. Perry will once again operate as the team's top two wideouts.
NewOrleans.Football's Nick Underhill expects New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (knee) to return this year. Thomas is currently on Injured Reserve with a right-knee injury and must miss two more games before he's eligible to return. It's good news for the oft-injured 30-year-old wideout, but a return for the final three games of the 2023 regular season isn't going to help fantasy managers at all. Although Thomas had just one touchdown in 10 games before his injury, he was serving as a steady No. 2 wideout for New Orleans behind Chris Olave with 39 receptions (64 targets) for 448 receiving yards. The Saints have struggled to replace Thomas with Rashid Shaheed (thigh) and rookie A.T. Perry, with running back Alvin Kamara mostly benefitting from an even larger pass-catching role in the last two games without Thomas in the mix.
The New Orleans Saints are placing wide receiver Michael Thomas (knee) on Injured Reserve, which means that he will be forced to miss at least the next four games. Head coach Dennis Allen said on Monday that Thomas' knee injury was going to keep him out for some time, but now we know it will be at least for the next four games. It means that fantasy managers won't have him to close out their regular season and they might not even be able to count on him if they make the postseason. The 30-year-old injured his right knee on the first offensive play in Week 10 and was eventually ruled out for the rest of the game. Until Thomas is able to return, Rashid Shaheed and rookie A.T. Perry will see more targets through the air behind target hog Chris Olave. Tight end Juwan Johnson also becomes more attractive as a TE streamer.
