Michael Thomas Injury Update Another Blow to Saints Playoff Hopes

The New Orleans Saints’ road to the playoffs continues to get harder. 

New Orleans lost starting quarterback Jameis Winston for the season on Sunday with a torn ACL, and now it appears star wideout Michael Thomas will miss the entire 2021 season. 

Thomas, who has spent the entire 2021 season on the PUP list, reportedly is dealing with a “new and separate ankle injury” after having surgery this offseason.

This is a killer blow to the Saints’ offense, as the team expected to get Thomas back at some point this season. The team unsuccessfully tried to make a trade for a wide receiver at the trade deadline, but will have to move forward with its current group of Marquez Callaway, Tre'Quan Smith and Deonte Harris.

The Saints are 5-2 and have upset their division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season, but they are in danger of falling out of the playoff race due to the injury bug. 

Thomas has barely played since his monster 2019 season where he led the NFL in catches (149) and receiving yards (1,725). The wideout played in just seven games in the 2020 season, catching 40 passes for 438 yards. 

New Orleans is still well behind the Bucs to win the NFC South, sitting at +275 odds at WynnBET, and it is currently +3500 to win the Super Bowl. Not having Thomas to help the team through some uncertainty at quarterback is only going to make it harder going forward. 

Taysom Hill (concussion) or Trevor Siemian will start for the Saints at quarterback in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons. New Orleans is a six-point favorite in that matchup.