The New Orleans Saints will be without wide receiver Michael Thomas for the foreseeable future, with the star WR headed to injured reserve.
Thomas is out recovering from a knee injury suffered on the Saints' first drive in a loss to the Vikings in Week 10, with head coach Dennis Allen stating that he took a helmet to the knee. Thomas left the game immediately and went into the injury tent for an extended stretch and did not return to the game.
A trip to injured reserve means he will miss at least four games (at Falcons, vs Lions, vs Panthers, vs Giants) and could potentially return for the final three games of the regular season (at Rams, at Bucs, vs Falcons). The Saints have signed a familiar name in Marquez Callaway to the practice squad for depth, a move that became official on Tuesday. Callaway spent his first three seasons with the Saints after signing on as a UDFA out of Tennessee, but departed this offseason, spending time with the Broncos and Raiders.
Thomas was off to a healthy start in the 2023 season after three seasons of injury, surgery and setbacks that robbed him of all but 10 games. He got through nine games this year and had not appeared on a single injury report prior to this injury, logging 39 catches for 448 yards and a touchdown.
With Thomas' roster spot cleared, the Saints will be signing cornerback Cam Dantzler to the active roster. Cornerback depth is a sudden need due to another injury, with Marshon Lattimore also leaving Week 10 with what has been reported to be a high ankle sprain. Lattimore avoiding IR would be an indication that the team likely expects him back prior to the four-week window you'd have to remain on IR.
After a bye week, Saints will be back in action in Week 12 when they head to Atlanta for a pivotal NFC South matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Wide receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed will step into a bigger role, as will rookie A.T. Perry, who stepped in when Thomas went down in Minnesota, logging his first two career catches, one for a touchdown.
