Michael Thomas has had quite the up-and-down NFL career. Many NFL analysts considered the New Orleans Saints receiver one of the best in the game for a stretch of his career. Unfortunately for Thomas, his career has taken a downturn due to several injuries, leading some to question whether his body is breaking down.
Thomas is fully healthy and prepared for a comeback season, from all accounts. Thomas saw his first preseason action last week and showed a connection with new Saints QB Derek Carr.
The Saints take on the Los Angeles Chargers in preseason action tonight. But is Thomas playing, and if so, what impact will he have on the outcome of the game?
Is Michael Thomas Playing Today?
The Saints have shown an abundance of caution involving their talented veteran receiver over the years. Thomas playing last week during New Orleans’ preseason opener speaks volumes about where he is health-wise on his journey back.
But more importantly, Derek Carr to Michael Thomas 👀👀 pic.twitter.com/QpyEaDNWMM
— FantasyPros (@FantasyProsNFL) August 13, 2023
Expect Thomas to play tonight, similarly to how he was deployed last week. He’ll live in the slot and work on developing chemistry with his new starting QB.
What To Expect From Michael Thomas Preseason Week 2?
Expect Thomas to play one, maybe two series before the Saints shut him down. There’s no reason to risk a player with a checkered injury history to unnecessary hits.
Michael Thomas vs Derwin James 🍿
(🎥 @nofnetwork)
pic.twitter.com/WdzaTNI72H— PFF (@PFF) August 17, 2023
What To Expect From Thomas in 2023?
There’s no way of knowing how long and if Thomas will hold up during the 2023 season. In the last three seasons, Thomas has started just eight games.
There are positive reports that the veteran receiver is fully healthy heading into 2023, but reports must also be taken with a grain of salt. Expecting Thomas to play an entire season or be the player he once was during his dominant stretch is a fallacy.
Michael Thomas is ready for a comeback season 🚀 pic.twitter.com/e1NWRtPzM6
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) August 14, 2023
Thomas’ game was never speed and explosiveness, but expecting his game to take a step back is a sensible approach.
It also makes sense to expect the continued emergence of WR Chris Olave as the top pass-catching target in the Saints’ offense. As a rookie, Olave was even better than the statistics would lead you to believe, and he appears to be on the fast track to superstardom.
RB Alvin Kamara will still have a role in the Saint’s offense, but he’ll be serving a three-game suspension at the beginning of the season. With Jamaal Williams and Kendre Miller in tow, don’t expect much deviation in the Saints’ offensive game plan.
Thomas is an underneath option for Carr to lean on in critical moments as a consistent pass catcher when he’s in the lineup for New Orleans. Unfortunately for Thomas, when he is in the Saints’ lineup remains the question to answer heading into 2023.
