Michael Thomas out for season due to ankle setback

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas announced Wednesday that he will be shut down for the remainder of the 2021 campaign due to a setback with his ankle injury.

"The team and I have worked diligently, day and night to rehab and get me back on the field," Thomas wrote in a statement. "Unfortunately, there has been another small setback, which we will have to address. To my displeasure, I will not be able to make it back in time for this season but will do everything in my power to get back to the player I have always been."

It was reported earlier Wednesday that Thomas' return date was uncertain as a result of a new ankle injury. He was placed on the PUP list after undergoing surgery on a separate ankle injury suffered at the beginning of the 2020 campaign. He was eligible to return after Week 6, though his season will now conclude without him playing a single snap.

Head coach Sean Payton said Thomas' setback is related to the previous ankle surgery and that the wideout may need another procedure to address the issue, according to Amie Just of NOLA.com.

The wideout's setback played a part in New Orleans' attempt to acquire a receiver before Tuesday's trade deadline. The Saints reportedly discussed a trade with the Cleveland Browns for Odell Beckham Jr., but the two sides couldn't come to a deal.

Thomas had been one of the league's most productive wide receivers since 2016 but ankle injuries have hampered him since 2020. He was limited to just seven games last season and posted career lows in receiving yards (438) and touchdowns (0).

New Orleans' passing offense currently ranks 31st in the NFL. No wideout has produced more than 300 receiving yards. The Saints rank second in the NFC South at 5-2, though they also lost quarterback Jameis Winston to a season-ending ACL injury in Week 8.