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Report: Former Ohio State star Michael Thomas undergoes ankle surgery, will miss start of 2021 season
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With the retirement of Drew Brees, the 2021 New Orleans Saints offense was bound to look much different than it has in recent years.
Now, the Saints will find themselves without another recent mainstay when the season starts in September. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport broke the news Friday that Michael Thomas, a former Ohio State Buckeye and current standout wide receiver for the Saints, will miss the start of the 2021 NFL season due to an ankle injury.
The report from NFL Network says that Thomas underwent surgery in June to repair the torn ligaments in his ankle. The timetable for his return appears to be four months from when the surgery took place. Based on Rapoport’s reporting, that puts Thomas on track for a return in October.
Sources: #Saints star WR Michael Thomas is expected to miss the start of the 2021 season after undergoing surgery to repair the ligaments in his ankle in June. Based on the timing of the surgery – and recommended 4 months of recovery – Thomas could be on the sideline for weeks.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 23, 2021
Thomas has been a star in the football world dating back to his days in Columbus playing for the Buckeyes. Thomas soared onto the scene during the 2014 season when he became a starting wideout for Ohio State as the team went on to stun the country, defeating Alabama and eventually winning the national championship.
After his days in Columbus were over, Thomas moved onto the NFL. Since being selected by the Saints in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Thomas has set a number of records while becoming one of the league’s top wideouts. This past season, he played in only seven games but managed to catch 40 passes for 438 yards.
The Saints are currently in a state of flux as they prepare to move on from Brees and start anew. Thomas seemed to be one of the big players to help bridge that gap. His absence could spell trouble for New Orleans.