The news is here, and it isn't good: Michael Thomas looks to be done for the season with another injury that requires surgery.
In the 2020 and 2021 seasons it was an ankle issue and surgery that cost the star WR a majority of his games. This time it's a dislocated toe suffered in Week 3 that didn't respond to the rehab as hoped. After missing five games, he'll go on injured reserve with head coach Dennis Allen indicating he is not expected to return.
Here's what teammates and coaches had to say after the news broke:
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HEAD COACH DENNIS ALLEN
"I think he's disappointed, because I think, you know, he put a put a ton into this to try to get himself back and he's been an outstanding teammate. He's worked extremely hard to rehab it. There's just some things that you don't have any control over, and this is one of those things.
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"We followed what the doctors recommended in terms of trying to rehab it and give him an opportunity to play through it. And we went in and had another MRI the other day, and it just ... hadn't healed the way that everybody kind of was hoping that it would and so, you know, surgery is the next option."
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QB ANDY DALTON
"We know what Mike has been able to do in this offense and, you know, we'd love to have him out there. But for him the most important thing is getting healthy at this point.
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"Ever since I've been here and seeing him in this building, he does everything he can to make sure that he can put himself in the best possible situation. And it's unfortunate throughout the last couple of years he's had the injuries that he's had. And sometimes it just happens that way. But it's a guy that will do anything in his power to try to get back.
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"For us, it would be harder if Mike was out here and then all sudden we lost him. Especially for me personally, I've been playing with this group for a while now. And so we understand our group. But I mean, it definitely wouldn't say it's an exhale to know what's going on. We obviously want Mike back out here just because the type of talent that he's gotten the things that he can do to help us."
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WR CHRIS OLAVE
"It's tough man, just knowing Mike, knowing the type of guy he is, knowing the type of competitor is. I know you want to be out there with us so bad. But you can't control injuries, that's the tough part of the game. So I wish the best for him going forward, I know he's gonna take his best step forward.
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"That's Mike Thomas, man. He's one of the best players in the league when he's healthy. He's one of the best receivers that I've seen. So it's tough going forward without him, but we gotta try our best to go get some wins without him."
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DE CAM JORDAN
"I'm going to to stay positive, have wishful or hopeful thinking that he gets back as fast as he can the right way and whatever it takes for us to get him back the right way. When it comes down to surgeries, you don't wish that on anybody. And especially Mike who, you know he wants to be in every practice and he treats every practice like it's a game and in the games he's you know Super Mike T, Can't Guard Mike. Just can't wait for him to get right get, healthy because when he is he's, you know, top tier. He came in Week 1 and was right back on where we wanted him to be."
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