There’s never been any doubting the talent Michael Thomas boasts, and he reminded everyone Sunday why his return was worth the wait.
Thomas on Sunday played in his first game since Jan. 2021, and he made an instant impact, catching five of his eight targets for 57 yards and two touchdowns. It would have been a nice showing regardless of backstory, but it’s all the more attention-grabbing after he missed all of last season recovering from ankle surgery.
Before the ankle issues, Thomas was one of the premier wideouts in the game. Using Sunday as a baseline, it’s fair to think the 29-year-old potentially can return to that status. His teammate, Chris Olave, thinks he’s already there.
"That’s my guy, man," Olave said of Thomas Sunday night on CBS Sports Radio. "He brought me under his wing right when I got drafted, and we’ve been close since. I know he’s been battling a lot of injuries, but I’ve seen the work ethic that he’s been putting in, and I feel like he deserves everything that’s coming his way. So I’m proud of him and everything he’s done.
"He’s the best in the league, man, in my eyes. I’ve seen him practice, I've seen everything he can do, I feel like he’s the best in the league right now."
We’ll see how the consistency shakes out with Thomas, but if he goes back to vintage form, that’ll be a huge boost for the Saints.
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