Michael Thomas didn't practice in the typical sense of the word at the final set of Saints OTAs this week, but his presence was notable, regardless.
The Saints star WR, not unlike his appearance at training camp a year ago, wasn't on the field when the team began its work on Tuesday in Metairie. But as the receivers set up to run routes against air and catch balls from the QBs, No. 13 was spotted striding across the field in helmet and gloves, greeted head coach Dennis Allen and QBs coach Ronald Curry, then looked on as the the drills commenced.
Thomas was running ghost routes off to the side, clearly itching to get into drills as he continues to rehab from a foot injury that ended his 2022 season. He was seen running some routes at half speed later on, catching some light passes from the trio of quarterbacks on hand. Carr said the goal was to just get familiar with each other as they work closer to training camp.
Allen said Thomas isn't expected to participate in mandatory minicamp next week, though he'll be in attendance. The goal remains training camp.
Thomas' appearance is the first time he was spotted at a team practice since Week 3 of the 2022 season, when he suffered a toe injury that ended his season. His return will be highly scrutinized all offseason as he attempts to work back from a series of injuries, surgeries and setbacks that have limited the star receiver to just 10 games since his record-setting 149-catch season in 2019.
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