Saints' Allen expects Thomas to be ready by training camp

New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen is optimistic about wide receiver Michael Thomas' recovery but wants to temper expectations until training camp.

The head coach said that the team's "hope" and "expectation" is for Thomas to fully participate during training camp.

"Our focus is getting him ready for training camp. I think that's where myself, him, really our whole organization, that's really what our focus is, getting him ready to go for training camp, he said. "I like where he's at."

Allen added that he has yet to determine if Thomas will participate in OTAs Tuesday.

"If he does anything, I wouldn't expect it to be a lot."

Thomas only managed to play in three contests in 2022 before a foot injury sidelined him for the remainder of the campaign. The team officially placed him on injured reserve in Week 9.

He hasn't played a complete season since 2018 due to various foot, ankle, and hamstring issues. The ailments have been most prevalent the past three seasons, limiting Thomas to just 10 games (eight starts) from 2020-22.

Thomas has 526 catches, 6,121 yards, and 35 career touchdowns. He began his NFL tenure with four consecutive seasons of 1,100 yards or more, led the league in receptions twice, and paced all players in receiving yards once before injuries began to seriously limit his availability. He also set the single-season NFL record for receptions with 149 in 2019.

"We're excited about it," Allen said. "Mike's an important piece to our offense, and when he's playing at the level that he's capable of playing at, we're a much better offense."