New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas is “likely” to have surgery to repair torn ankle ligaments this offseason, ESPN reported Tuesday.
Thomas knew it could be Drew Brees’ last season and played through a high ankle sprain, hoping to help the veteran quarterback go out with a Super Bowl win, per the report.
After setting an NFL single-season record with 149 receptions for a league-leading 1,725 yards in 2019, Thomas got hurt in the 2020 season opener and wound up catching just 40 passes for 438 yards and zero touchdowns in seven games.
Thomas, 27, did not record a reception on his four targets in Sunday’s 30-20 divisional playoff loss to the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was the first game of his five-year career without a catch.
A three-time Pro Bowl and two-time All-Pro selection, Thomas has 510 receptions for 5,950 yards and 32 scores in 70 games since the Saints drafted him in the second round in 2016.
Thomas inked a five-year, $96.3 million contract extension in 2019 and is due to earn a base salary of $12.6 million with a cap hit of $18.8 million in 2021.
