Michael Thomas (ankle) released a statement that he is out for the 2021 season.

03 November 2021

News broke early Wednesday morning that Thomas had seen a specialist for a new injury to his ankle. Thomas indicated in his statement that this setback will cause him to miss the rest of the 2021 season. Thomas was utterly dominant in 2019, but will make his return a full two years removed from that spectacular season. Thomas turns 29 in March, and with Jameis Winton unlikely to be the Saints' starter in 2022, it's unclear who Thomas will be catching passes from in his attempt to recapture his elite form. Thomas' salary fully guarantees on the third day of the 2022 league year, in March. This will likely keep him in New Orleans, but it's not entirely out of the question that he's played his last snap as a Saint.