NFL Network's Ian Rapoport hears that Saints WR Michael Thomas (ankle) will debut in Week 7 this season "if everything goes perfect." Thomas elected not to undergo surgery on that ankle immediately after the season, evidently hoping it'd heal with rest and rehab. But he ended up having "major surgery" in early June, per Rapoport, and will need at least 4 months to recover. Thomas is expected to open the season on the PUP list, with the hope that he'll be ready to go following the Saints' Week 6 bye. And that sounds like the best-case scenario. He'll also miss a ton of valuable practice reps with QBs Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill. Thomas has gone from a value pick in Round 3 of fantasy drafts to a guy that you're probably better off just passing on unless you can land him super late.

Saints WR Michael Thomas (ankle) posted video of himself running routes on Friday. Thomas didn't participate in any of New Orleans' offseason program, but HC Dennis Allen said back in May that he expects Thomas to be ready for the start of training camp. His health will be 1 of the biggest fantasy storylines of August. Thomas has gone in the early 8th round of recent FFPC best-ball drafts.

Saints HC Dennis Allen said WR Michael Thomas is making "significant progress" in his recovery from his lingering ankle injury. “I’m good with where Mike Thomas is,” Allen said. “I would much rather him be 100 percent healthy and out here and all those kinds of things, but that’s not where we’re at right now. He is busting his tail to get himself ready to go, and I feel like he’s making significant progress. I think mentally he’s in a great place and, again, we’re just going to let that process play out and get him healthy. And look, we have a long time to go before we play a game. … I’m not looking for a huge jump, I just want to see him keep getting a little better every day.” Thomas won't participate in this week's minicamp, though, and we still have no timetable for his return to the field. He's a risky fantasy pick until we know that the ankle issue is behind him.

Saints HC Dennis Allen told reporters Thursday that WR Michael Thomas "isn't ready yet," according to John Hendrix of SI.com. Allen added that he expects to have Thomas back in time for training camp. That kind of report on a veteran this time of year is often not a big deal, but Thomas missed all of last season with an ankle injury that dates all the way back to Week 1 of 2020. So we'll consider him high risk at least until he's back on the field -- and probably even after that.

Saints HC Dennis Allen said Friday that WR Michael Thomas is still working his way back from the ankle issue that cost him the entire 2021 season. "There's still a few hurdles that we've got to climb," Allen said, adding it's his "hope" that Thomas is ready for Week 1. Thomas suffered 2 separate injuries to that left ankle. He had 1 surgery last June and and might have had a 2nd in the wintertime. It's concerning not only that he's still rehabbing, but that Allen wouldn't even commit to him being ready for the start of the season. We'll continue to keep a close eye on the situation.

WR Michael Thomas is expected back with the Saints for the 2022 season, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Thomas, of course, missed all of 2021 after undergoing a pair of ankle surgeries. Rapoport adds that Thomas had another setback at some point and spent a bunch of time in New York getting weekly treatment. But he's back in New Orleans now and will seemingly be ready for the start of the offseason program. We'll keep an eye on Thomas, along with the rest of the Saints' Sean Payton-less offense.