Saints wide receiver Thomas won’t play in Monday night game
The New Orleans Saints officially ruled All-Pro wide receiver Michael Thomas out for Monday night’s game against the host Raiders due to a high ankle sprain.
Thomas, 27, sustained the injury in last Sunday’s season-opening 34-23 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He didn’t practice this week due to the ailment.
After leading the NFL in both receptions (single-season-record 149 catches) and receiving yards (1,725) in 2019, he caught only three passes for 17 yards in Week 1. The three receptions tied his career low for a single game, with the 17 yards his second-lowest single-game mark.
Monday’s game against the Raiders will be the first one he has missed since Dec. 11, 2016, snapping a streak of 57 consecutive games (including playoffs).
Thomas, a three-time Pro Bowl selection and the league’s 2019 Offensive Player of the Year, has racked up 1,000 or more receiving yards in all four prior seasons since being drafted in the second round in 2016.
Without Thomas, the Saints may move 33-yearold Emmanuel Sanders outside and adjust the depth chart behind him. Sanders caught a touchdown pass from Drew Brees in his Saints debut against the Bucs.
Thomas’ absence come after Brees last Sunday passed for 160 yards, well below his usual standard and tying a season low from last year — excluding a Week 2 loss against the Rams in Los Angeles, which Brees left with an injured throwing hand after his fifth pass.
The Saints (1-0) also got relatively low production from Thomas, who opened 2020 with three catches after setting an NFL single-season record with 149 catches in 2019.
ALSO >> The New York Jets signed inside linebacker Alec Ogletree from the practice squad to the active roster . ... The Detroit Lions will be without starting offensive guard Joe Dahl against Green Bay. Dahl was put on injured reserve due to a groin injury. The Lions signed guard Kenny Wiggins off the practice squad. Detroit also elevated defensive back Dee Virgin and defensive tackle Kevin Strong from the practice squad . ... The Atlanta Falcons will be without a key member of their cornerback rotation for the second week in a row after ruling Kendall Sheffield out of today’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. Sheffield is still recovering from a foot injury and wasn’t able to practice all week. The Falcons also ruled out backup defensive end Charles Harris (ankle), while rookie defensive tackle Marlon Davidson (knee) was listed as doubtful. Both also missed the opener. Starting left tackle Jake Matthews (knee) is questionable after only taking part in a limited part of practice the past two days.