Saints: Timing with Michael Thomas situation beyond frustrating

New Orleans Saints fans awoke to the news on Wednesday that Michael Thomas would miss the rest of the 2021 season after a setback with his ankle. Considering this news came about not even 24 hours after the trade deadline is frustrating because the Saints could have been aggressive and added a receiver.

Perhaps they knew this was the situation and if that’s the case, then they clearly feel comfortable with the wide receiver room.

Fans, however, are left puzzled by this whole situation.

Thomas was initially injured early last season and only ended playing in seven regular-season games and the playoffs as a result. It was the first season in his career where he didn’t catch a touchdown pass and was a huge dropoff from his Offensive Player of the Year campaign the previous year where he hauled in over 1,700 yards receiving and nine touchdowns.

Ahead of this season, we all figured Thomas would be ready to go Week 1 but the news broke over the summer that he’d have to get surgery. That set him back to about the halfway mark of the 2021 season, which is roughly where we’re sitting now.

Michael Thomas won’t play in 2021

Fans were waiting each week for updates on Thomas and as time went on, it started to feel like this would end up being the verdict. It’s unfortunate for everyone involved — Thomas because he has to continue to rehab, the Saints because their wide receivers are less-than-stellar and even that’s putting it nicely, and the fans because we were excited to see Thomas back out there again.

As more news starts to trickle in, we’ll be more aware of what really went down here and if there was any funny business but for now, it’s just a frustrating situation.

Hopefully, Michael Thomas can heal up and be ready to go for the 2022 season. The New Orleans Saints better not pass on a wide receiver in next year’s draft though.