Saints coach Sean Payton on Michael Thomas surgical procedure: ‘It ought to have occurred earlier’

As anticipated, Sean Payton is not thrilled about not having Michael Thomas on the sphere to open the 2021 season. The league’s main receiver in 2019, Thomas is anticipated to overlook important time after present process ankle surgical procedure in June. 

Maybe surprising was Payton’s criticism of when Thomas acquired surgical procedure. The Saints coach used the phrase “disappointing” when describing his emotions on not having Thomas to start out what can be a radically unknown season for the Saints. 

“It seems we’ll should spend a while with out him,” Payton snapped by way of Rod Walker of Nola.com. “It is disappointing. We’d have appreciated that to have occurred earlier. And fairly truthfully, it ought to have. I will go away it at that.” 

Saints basic supervisor Mickey Loomis was additionally requested about Thomas on Wednesday. Loomis stated that the hope was that Thomas’ damage would heal although “conservative remedy” in lieu of surgical procedure. Ankle points contributed to Thomas showing in a career-low seven video games in 2020. 

“With hindsight, we might have most popular that surgical procedure to be earlier, in February or March,” Loomis stated. “However it wasn’t. It’s what it’s. Hopefully he is had a great consequence up to now and we are able to get him again sooner quite than later.” 

With Thomas anticipated to overlook time, the Saints signed veteran wideout Chris Hogan, who received two Tremendous Bowl with the Patriots earlier in his profession. New Orleans’ receiving corps additionally contains Tre’Quan Smith (34 receptions for 448 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2020), Marquez Callaway (21 receptions for 212 yards final season) and Deonte Harris (20 receptions for 186 yards in 2020). Whereas working again Alvin Kamara (the workforce’s main receiver in 2020) is again, New Orleans parted this offseason with its second- and third-leading receivers from final season — Emmanuel Sanders and tight finish Jared Cook dinner. 

Whereas they await Thomas’ return, quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill must profit from what Loomis feels is an underrated receiving corps. 

“We like our group of receivers greater than a number of the media guys do,” Loomis stated.