Thomas (ankle) didn't participate during Tuesday's mandatory minicamp practice, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The wideout spent half of practice rehabbing in the training facility and the other half watching from the sideline while wearing his uniform. Thomas hasn't practiced or played since 2020, so he wasn't expected to participate in minicamp. However, it's still encouraging to see the two-time NFL receptions leader engaged in team activities at this point in the offseason. The Saints have yet to comment on expectations for Thomas' availability during training camp, but they hope to have him back at some point during the 2022 campaign.

Saints coach Dennis Allen doesn't expect Thomas (ankle) to participate in June minicamp, Rod Walker of the Times-Picayune reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Saints still hope to have the two-time NFL receptions leader available at some point, but it won't happen during the offseason program. While he's been spotted at the team facility, Thomas still hasn't practiced or played since 2020, and he ended up needing another surgery on his problematic ankle after experiencing a setback in October or November. The Saints haven't commented on expectations for training camp.

Thomas (ankle) was at the team facility Wednesday but didn't participate in practice, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.

EDGE Analysis

His presence at voluntary practices is a sign Thomas is back on decent terms with the team, but his ankle remains a significant concern after he missed a big chunk of 2020 and all of 2021. Coach Dennis Allen acknowledged in early May that the wideout still had "a few hurdles" to clear in the rehab process, but both Allen and GM Micky Loomis said they expect Thomas to be part of the team this season. It's possible he's targeting training camp for a return to practice.

Coach Dennis Allen noted that the Saints feel good about where Thomas (ankle) stands in terms of his injury rehab, but acknowledged that there's "still a few hurdles" ahead for the wideout.

EDGE Analysis

With that in mind, it seems as though Thomas -- who didn't play last season -- will be limited to some degree upon his return to the field. However, in the absence of any setbacks in the coming months, the 29-year-old appears poised to reclaim his spot atop the Saints' wideout depth chart which was recently bolstered by the team's selection of Chris Olave with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

GM Mickey Loomis noted Thursday that Thomas is on track to return to the mix in 2022 after not playing last season due to a left ankle injury that required surgery, John DeShazier of the Saints' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

"We're expecting to have Mike back," Loomis said of Thomas, who was the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year in 2019. "His progress hopefully is going well, and the reports are that it's been going well. I know he is certainly motivated; Michael is always motivated, so that's not an issue." While the Saints expect Thomas back this coming season to provide a boost to their pass-catching corps, which wideouts the 29-year-old -- who is signed through 2024 -- will be working alongside in 2022 remains to be determined, with Tre'Quan Smith slated to become an unrestricted free agent and Deonte Harris a restricted free agent.

Thomas (ankle) restructured his contract Saturday to create nearly $14 million in cap space for the Saints, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

The deal adds an extra two voidable years to Thomas' contract, but more importantly this almost guarantees the All-Pro wideout will play for the Saints next season. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported last week a reconciliation between both parties seemingly occurred after months of reported tension between player and front office. Thomas, who is still rehabbing his ankle after a second surgery in the last 12 months, is expected to be healthy in time for the new campaign.

Thomas, who was rehabilitating his left ankle injury in New York for most of the 2021 season, has returned to New Orleans and is expected to play next year, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

It seemed almost a foregone conclusion Thomas' tenure with the Saints would be coming to a close this offseason considering the organization's significant hierarchy upheaval, a looming cap-room crisis and what had been by all accounts a rather frigid relationship between the two-time All-Pro wide receiver and the franchise since the former underwent a second surgery on his ankle in July. While it's entirely possible the Saints could still look to deal Thomas given so much uncertainty regarding the direction of the franchise post Sean Payton, Rapoport's report seemed to indicate the team would prefer to keep the soon-to-be 29-year-old around. That's a significant statement given a breakup seemed inevitable six months ago, but it's also fair to point out that plans may change depending on how the Saints operate this offseason with negative $72 million in cap room.

Saints head coach Sean Payton acknowledged Wednesday that Thomas could require another procedure for his left ankle, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com reports. "I think this isn't anything he can control," Payton said when asked about the wideout's potential need for surgery, after Thomas announced earlier Wednesday via his personal Twitter account that he wouldn't play this season.

EDGE Analysis

Payton said that Thomas had been "working his tail off" to return at some point during the second half of the season after spending the first eight weeks of the campaign on the reserve/PUP list, but those hopes were dashed after the three-time Pro Bowler recently experienced what Ian Rapoport of NFL Network described as "a new and separate" injury to the same ankle. Thomas initially injured the ankle early Week 1 of last season and proceeded to miss the next six games, only to aggravate the injury coming out of Week 13. He returned for the playoffs, but he didn't look to be in top form before ultimately opting for surgery in June to repair multiple ligaments in the ankle after rest and rehab didn't resolve the matter. In light of his latest setback, the prospect of another procedure clouds the long-term outlook of Thomas, who will turn 29 in March and has yet to get integrated in the New Orleans offense during the post-Drew Brees era.

Thomas announced Wednesday via his personal Twitter account that he won't play this season after experiencing what he described as a "small setback" in his rehab from offseason left ankle surgery.

EDGE Analysis

Thomas' decision to rule himself out for 2021 comes after Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported earlier Wednesday that the wideout suffered a "new and separate" injury to the left ankle that left him without a clear timeline to return. While Thomas didn't elaborate on the severity of his setback, it was evidently significant enough for him to rule out a return to the field in the next two months. After playing only seven games in 2020 due to the same ankle issue that later required surgery, Thomas will head into his age-29 campaign in 2022 with a limited track record of playing with quarterbacks other than Drew Brees.

Thomas recently experienced a "new and separate" injury with his surgically repaired left ankle, making it uncertain when he'll be ready to return from the reserve/PUP list, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Thomas has been sidelined all season after undergoing the ankle procedure in June, but he's been eligible to rejoin the Saints since Week 7 after spending the requisite six weeks on the PUP list. Over the past two weeks, the Saints haven't offered much indication that Thomas is getting closer to practicing, and Rapoport relays the wideout's timeline to return to the field remains "unpredictable" after he recently met with a foot/ankle specialist in the wake of his new injury. If and when he does play this season, Thomas likely will be catching passes from Taysom Hill, after incumbent starter Jameis Winston (knee) suffered a season-ending ACL tear Week 8.