Thomas (ankle) still is multiple weeks away from a return, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Thomas began the 2021 season on the PUP list after undergoing left ankle surgery, making him eligible to return as early as Week 7, but it appears as though the star wideout will require a bit more time to rest before resuming practice activities. As the Saints come off a Week 6 bye and look toward a Monday night matchup in Seattle, it appears that Marquez Callaway and Deonte Harris (hamstring) once again are in line to serve as Jameis Winston's top wideouts.

Thomas (illness/ankle) was removed from the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday. He's still on the reserve/PUP list, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.

EDGE Analysis

Thomas was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list earlier in September after a number of Saints coaches tested positive for the virus. Given the star wideout was already expected to miss the first six weeks of the season while recovering from June ankle surgery, the designation shouldn't dramatically change his recovery time. Thomas is first eligible to return Oct. 25 against the Seahawks following the team's Week 6 bye.

The Saints transferred Thomas (ankle) from the reserve/PUP list to the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports. He tested positive for the virus, according to Aaron Wilson of Sportstalk 790 Houston.

EDGE Analysis

Thomas becomes the first Saints player to go on the COVID-19 list after the Associated Press reported earlier Tuesday that six unidentified New Orleans coaching staff members and one player tested positive for the virus. Provided he doesn't experience any overly severe symptoms on the virus, Thomas' timeline for making his 2021 debut shouldn't be affected. After opening the campaign on the PUP list while recovering from June surgery on his left ankle, Thomas was already slated to miss the first six weeks of the regular season. He'll first be eligible to return Oct. 25 in Seattle following the Saints' Week 6 bye.

The Saints moved Thomas (ankle) to the reserve/PUP list Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

As Adam Schefter of ESPN reported earlier Tuesday, Thomas landed on this reserve list, which will sideline him for at least the first six weeks of the campaign. The Saints have a bye Week 6, meaning Thomas will be eligible to return Week 7 in Seattle on Monday, Oct. 25.

Thomas (ankle) likely will be placed on the PUP list, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

With a four-month timeline estimate after June surgery, Thomas was a strong candidate for the PUP list all along. In this case, the move will rule him out for only five games instead of six, as the Saints have an early bye (Week 6) in 2021. Assuming this move becomes official Tuesday or Wednesday, the star wideout will be ineligible for games until Week 7 at Seattle (Oct. 25).

Coach Sean Payton said Thomas (ankle) is ahead of schedule in his rehab from June surgery, Luke Johnson of The Times-Picayune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Thomas attended the Saints' preseason opener Saturday in Baltimore, the first time reporters had seen him with the team since June minicamp. It's been an interesting summer between the delayed surgery, cryptic tweets and trade rumors, but Thomas does seem to be doing well with his rehab and at least has maintained a working relationship with the Saints for the time being. He'll still miss the early part of the regular season, with most reports earlier this summer putting his timeline at around four months.

The Saints could be open to trading Thomas (ankle), Larry Holder of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Reportedly, there is tension between Thomas and the team that may stem back to Week 1 of last season when the receiver injured his ankle while the Saints were comfortably ahead of the Buccaneers halfway through the fourth quarter. Thomas then allegedly "blew off" the New Orleans medical staff this offseason before finally agreeing to undergo ankle surgery in June, which head coach Sean Payton negatively commented on in public only for Thomas to seemingly fire back on social media. While Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports recently reported that Thomas and Payton may have met to reconcile their issues and that a trade is not coming, a divorce seems inevitable in Holder's opinion, noting the Saints' past willingness to move on from players who may be a distraction in the locker room even if they have to take a financial hit to do so.

Saints GM Micky Loomis says the team supported Thomas' plan to treat his ankle injury with rest rather than surgery at the beginning of the offseason, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Player and team seem to have been in agreement on a decision that ended up backfiring. Thomas apparently didn't look healthy at June minicamp, and it was decided afterward that he'd finally get surgery on the ankle that's been bothering him since Week 1 of last season. Given the timing of his ankle surgery -- which reportedly comes with a recovery estimate of four months -- Thomas likely will be out through September and perhaps into October or even November. The Saints should have open competition for roles at wide receiver, with Tre'Quan Smith the only clear starter from a group that includes Deonte Harris, Marquez Callaway, Juwan Johnson, Kawaan Baker and now Chris Hogan.

The Saints moved Thomas (ankle) to the preseason PUP list Monday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Thomas is expected to be sidelined through September, so this move was expected to occur for training camp. Barring an acceleration of his timeline, he may sit on the list throughout camp and the preseason and be a candidate to open the regular season on the PUP list as well. Tre'Quan Smith figures to headline the Saints' wide receiver corps in his absence, with Deonte Harris, Marquez Callaway and newly-signed Chris Hogan potentially factoring in.

Thomas (ankle) is expected to miss at least the first month of the upcoming season and may not be back to full strength until November or December, Larry Holder of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Numerous reports have mentioned a four-month timeline for his recovery from June ankle surgery, but injury expert Virginia Zakas told The Athletic that 24 weeks (about 5.5 months) would be ideal to reduce the odds of re-injury. Either way, Thomas appears unlikely to play in September, and he could even open the regular season on the PUP list -- which requires a six-game absence -- if the Saints aren't pleased with his rehab progress by the end of the preseason. For now, the Saints will hope to avoid that outcome, even if they also prepare for it. A signing or trade should be coming soon, considering Tre'Quan Smith is the only healthy wide receiver on the roster with more than 213 career receiving yards.