After injuries, Saints WR Michael Thomas eyes NFL comeback

AsylumGuido · 08-31-2023, 08:19 AM

Really good piece by Kat Terrell. There's lots of insight behind what has been going on behind the scenes.

After injuries, Saints WR Michael Thomas eyes NFL comeback

Katherine Terrell, ESPN Staff Writer
Aug 31, 2023, 07:00 AM ET

METAIRIE, La. -- Michael Thomas is putting on a clinic.

It's a Thursday afternoon in the New Orleans Saints training facility, well past the dog days of training camp and into the portion of the summer when weary players are counting down the days until the regular season.

Saints quarterback Derek Carr has decided the 30-year-old wideout is the day's favorite target. He sends three passes Thomas' way to start off 7-on-7 drills, then connects with him downfield on the first pass of 11-on-11 work.

Carr keeps at it, finishing off with two straight connections to Thomas in the two-minute drill. Thomas makes catch after and catch, and by the end of the day, he has 10 receptions.

"Mike's looked better and better every time he's come out here," Saints coach Dennis Allen said that afternoon. " ... We kind of knew that at some point we'd start seeing what we kind of expect out of him, and I think we're seeing that more and more every day he's out here."

It is the most Thomas has caught all throughout training camp.

It is the most Thomas has caught in years.

As the Saints approach their first regular-season game against the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 10 (1 p.m. ET, CBS), the same question lingers every day: Can Thomas be the player he used to be? The one who started his career by posting four 1,000-plus yard receiving seasons (2016-19).

No matter the opinions of promise or doubt, there are no absolutes in football. There is only hope.

THERE HAVE BEEN moments in practice when it would have been easy to look at Thomas and picture the younger version of himself -- the bolder, brasher version who once hid a flip phone in the goal posts to pay homage to former Saint Joe Horn's famous touchdown celebration to highlight one of his own.

Former Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who played with Thomas from 2016 to 2020, attended joint practices in Los Angeles against the Chargers in Week 2 of the preseason. Brees, who has been retired since 2021, was asked whether he'd still like to pick up the ball and throw to some of his old guys, and his answer was almost wistful.

"It's hard not to sit there and look at [running back Alvin] Kamara , [tight end] Jimmy [ Graham] and Mike T, and say, 'These three guys, right?' The moments that I had with them, if you could just bottle that up, right? That was pretty special," Brees told the official Saints podcast.

Read a whole lot more here ...

Crusader likes this.

leilung · 08-31-2023, 09:58 AM

With Graham and Kamara in the mix, it's almost like someone said, "Hey! Let's get the Band back together again for a Reunion Tour!"

I kinda like the idea... if they can stay healthy!

Boston Saint · 08-31-2023, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by leilung

With Graham and Kamara in the mix, it's almost like someone said, "Hey! Let's get the Band back together again for a Reunion Tour!"

I kinda like the idea... if they can stay healthy!

YouTube

AsylumGuido · 08-31-2023, 11:14 AM

Rugby Saint II · 08-31-2023, 11:31 AM

Welcome back Michael. Now go stop them from guarding you.

K Major · 08-31-2023, 11:44 AM

Not to derail the thread but is it too early to be concerned about Shaheed? Last I heard, he was doing "light" workouts @ practice.

I just hope he doesn't rush back too soon. Those groin injuries are tricky. Especially with a speed guy. The season is long and a grind.

Remember Donte' Stallworth?

But yeah, MT will be fine.

AsylumGuido · 08-31-2023, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by K Major

Not to derail the thread but is it too early to be concerned about Shaheed? Last I heard, he was doing "light" workouts @ practice.

I just hope he doesn't rush back too soon. Those groin injuries are tricky. Especially with a speed guy. The season is long and a grind.

Remember Donte' Stallworth?

But yeah, MT will be fine.

I think Dr. Matt Rhea probably has it under control. Ever since he came onboard all these soft tissue cases seem to have been handled very conservatively. I doubt he'd be back before he was ready. Given when they initially shut him down week one seems very doable.

Crusader · 08-31-2023, 12:18 PM

Great read!

Rugby Saint II · 08-31-2023, 01:02 PM

We are putting a lot of faith in Rasheed Shaheed in his second year. He's had to miss training camp two years in a row now and those reps are so valuable to young players. He needs to get healthy and stay healthy. That should be the team mantra. Lol

AsylumGuido · 08-31-2023, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by Rugby Saint II

We are putting a lot of faith in Rasheed Shaheed in his second year. He's had to miss training camp two years in a row now and those reps are so valuable to young players. He needs to get healthy and stay healthy. That should be the team mantra. Lol

I have a feeling that A.T. Perry will have more impact as a receiver than Shaheed before the year is over.

08-31-2023, 08:19 AM	#1
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 24,395	After injuries, Saints WR Michael Thomas eyes NFL comeback Really good piece by Kat Terrell. There's lots of insight behind what has been going on behind the scenes. Twitter After injuries, Saints WR Michael Thomas eyes NFL comeback Katherine Terrell, ESPN Staff Writer Aug 31, 2023, 07:00 AM ET METAIRIE, La. -- Michael Thomas is putting on a clinic. It's a Thursday afternoon in the New Orleans Saints training facility, well past the dog days of training camp and into the portion of the summer when weary players are counting down the days until the regular season. Saints quarterback Derek Carr has decided the 30-year-old wideout is the day's favorite target. He sends three passes Thomas' way to start off 7-on-7 drills, then connects with him downfield on the first pass of 11-on-11 work. Carr keeps at it, finishing off with two straight connections to Thomas in the two-minute drill. Thomas makes catch after and catch, and by the end of the day, he has 10 receptions. "Mike's looked better and better every time he's come out here," Saints coach Dennis Allen said that afternoon. " ... We kind of knew that at some point we'd start seeing what we kind of expect out of him, and I think we're seeing that more and more every day he's out here." It is the most Thomas has caught all throughout training camp. It is the most Thomas has caught in years. As the Saints approach their first regular-season game against the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 10 (1 p.m. ET, CBS), the same question lingers every day: Can Thomas be the player he used to be? The one who started his career by posting four 1,000-plus yard receiving seasons (2016-19). No matter the opinions of promise or doubt, there are no absolutes in football. There is only hope. THERE HAVE BEEN moments in practice when it would have been easy to look at Thomas and picture the younger version of himself -- the bolder, brasher version who once hid a flip phone in the goal posts to pay homage to former Saint Joe Horn's famous touchdown celebration to highlight one of his own. Former Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who played with Thomas from 2016 to 2020, attended joint practices in Los Angeles against the Chargers in Week 2 of the preseason. Brees, who has been retired since 2021, was asked whether he'd still like to pick up the ball and throw to some of his old guys, and his answer was almost wistful. "It's hard not to sit there and look at [running back Alvin] Kamara , [tight end] Jimmy [ Graham] and Mike T, and say, 'These three guys, right?' The moments that I had with them, if you could just bottle that up, right? That was pretty special," Brees told the official Saints podcast. Read a whole lot more here ... Crusader likes this.
	“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill

08-31-2023, 09:58 AM	#2
leilung Booty Bandit Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: The Wastelands that are NJ Posts: 1,165	Re: After injuries, Saints WR Michael Thomas eyes NFL comeback With Graham and Kamara in the mix, it's almost like someone said, "Hey! Let's get the Band back together again for a Reunion Tour!" I kinda like the idea... if they can stay healthy!

08-31-2023, 11:14 AM	#4
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 24,395	Re: After injuries, Saints WR Michael Thomas eyes NFL comeback Twitter

08-31-2023, 11:31 AM	#5
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 23,762	Re: After injuries, Saints WR Michael Thomas eyes NFL comeback Welcome back Michael. Now go stop them from guarding you. Boston Saint likes this.

08-31-2023, 11:44 AM	#6
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,064 Blog Entries: 3	Re: After injuries, Saints WR Michael Thomas eyes NFL comeback Not to derail the thread but is it too early to be concerned about Shaheed? Last I heard, he was doing "light" workouts @ practice. I just hope he doesn't rush back too soon. Those groin injuries are tricky. Especially with a speed guy. The season is long and a grind. Remember Donte' Stallworth? But yeah, MT will be fine. Crusader likes this.

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08-31-2023, 11:56 AM	#7
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 24,395	Re: After injuries, Saints WR Michael Thomas eyes NFL comeback Originally Posted by K Major Not to derail the thread but is it too early to be concerned about Shaheed? Last I heard, he was doing "light" workouts @ practice. I just hope he doesn't rush back too soon. Those groin injuries are tricky. Especially with a speed guy. The season is long and a grind. Remember Donte' Stallworth? But yeah, MT will be fine. I think Dr. Matt Rhea probably has it under control. Ever since he came onboard all these soft tissue cases seem to have been handled very conservatively. I doubt he'd be back before he was ready. Given when they initially shut him down week one seems very doable.

08-31-2023, 12:18 PM	#8
Crusader Resident Swede Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Märsta, Sweden Posts: 7,991	Re: After injuries, Saints WR Michael Thomas eyes NFL comeback Great read! Rugby Saint II likes this.

08-31-2023, 01:02 PM	#9
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 23,762	Re: After injuries, Saints WR Michael Thomas eyes NFL comeback We are putting a lot of faith in Rasheed Shaheed in his second year. He's had to miss training camp two years in a row now and those reps are so valuable to young players. He needs to get healthy and stay healthy. That should be the team mantra. Lol WW_Who_Dat and K Major like this.

08-31-2023, 01:56 PM	#10
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 24,395	Re: After injuries, Saints WR Michael Thomas eyes NFL comeback Originally Posted by Rugby Saint II We are putting a lot of faith in Rasheed Shaheed in his second year. He's had to miss training camp two years in a row now and those reps are so valuable to young players. He needs to get healthy and stay healthy. That should be the team mantra. Lol I have a feeling that A.T. Perry will have more impact as a receiver than Shaheed before the year is over. Rugby Saint II likes this.