It is expected that New Orleans Saints standout wideout Michael Thomas will miss the start of the upcoming season and now he's drawn an official designation for training camp.
The Saints placed Thomas on the physically unable to perform list Monday, per the transaction wire.
Thomas underwent surgery in June to repair ligaments in his ankle and with it comes a recovery timetable of roughly four months, ¹ú²úÍâÁ÷ÍøNetwork Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Friday.
Coming off a sensational 2019 campaign in which he tallied an NFL-record 149 receptions for an NFL-best 1,725 yards receiving, Thomas played in just seven games in 2020 due to injuries and disciplinary issues. After being placed on injured reserve to end the regular season, Thomas came back to play in both of the Saints' playoff games but tallied just a combined five catches for 73 yards.
As the post-Drew Brees era kicks off in New Orleans, the franchise and its offense will look to reinvent itself without Thomas in the lineup, as well, but it's sought out and signed some help.
New Orleans is signing receiver Chris Hogan, formerly of the New England Patriots, most recently of the New York Jets and currently of the Premier Lacrosse League's Whipsnakes Lacrosse Club, ¹ú²úÍâÁ÷ÍøNetwork's Mike Garafolo reported Monday. Earlier in the day, Garafolo had reported Hogan was in town for a workout and now he's staying put and signing.
Hogan, 33, spent the 2020 season with the Jets, racking up 14 receptions for 118 yards in five games played. But with no ¹ú²úÍâÁ÷Íøprospects heading into the summer, Hogan tried out for and made the Cannons Lacrosse Club's roster in the PLL. The journeyman wideout was then traded to the Whipsnakes earlier this month. Hogan famously played lacrosse at Penn State before playing football at Monmouth.
The receiver/midfielder is in the middle of his PLL regular season, which wraps up on Aug. 15. But the Whipsnakes are supportive of Hogan's workout in New Orleans and his ¹ú²úÍâÁ÷Íøaspirations, per Garafolo.
New Orleans currently boasts Tre'Quan Smith, Marquez Callaway and Deonte Harty in its WR room behind the healing Thomas, who is expected to be placed on the PUP list to start the season and be out until New Orleans' Week 7 game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Other news and notes we're tracking on Monday:
- Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard said linebacker Shaquille Leonard underwent a "small" ankle procedure that will sideline him for the beginning of training camp. Ballard said running back Marlon Mack, defensive end Kemoko Turay and wide receiver Parris Campbell are all 100% heading into camp.
The Indianapolis Colts to their football operations staff, including the promotion of Kevin Rogers to director of player personnel.
- Veteran interior lineman Daniel Kilgore Monday. Kilgore, 33, played in 98 games, starting 60, for the San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs. He logged nine special teams snaps during Kansas City's postseason run last season.
- The Philadelphia Eagles signed second-round offensive lineman Landon Dickerson to his rookie deal. Dickerson, who played center at Alabama, started out at guard this spring, but Garafolo reported Monday that Philadelphia intends to try Dickerson out at center once he is fully recovered from the ACL injury he suffered in the SEC title game with the intention of him one day taking over for Jason Kelce.
- The Los Angeles Rams placed rookie wide receiver Tutu Atwell on the reserve/COVID-19 list and signed tight end Kyle Markway.
- The Kansas City Chiefs re-signed defensive end Alex Okafor, signed long snapper Drew Scott and waived wide receiver Chris Finke. Okafor has recorded eight sacks in 21 games over the past two seasons with the Chiefs.
- The Cincinnati Bengals signed wide receiver Reece Horn, who spent the past two years playing in the XFL and the AAF.
- The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms with defensive linemen Kyle Peko and Anthony Rush and waived defensive lineman Bruce Hector.
- The San Francisco 49ers announced Monday they signed cornerback Ambry Thomas, a third-round pick taken with the 102nd overall pick, to his rookie deal. The team also released defensive lineman Daeshon Hall.
- The Seattle Seahawks are signing wide receiver Darece Roberson Jr, ¹ú²úÍâÁ÷ÍøNetwork's Tom Pelissero reported. The Seahawks later announced Roberson's signing along with the corresponding move of releasing cornerback Saivion Smith.
- The Las Vegas Raiders announced Monday they have signed punter Corliss Waitman and waived kicker Dominik Eberle.
- The Houston Texans' trade to acquire wide receiver Anthony Miller from the Chicago Bears was made official on Monday. Garafolo initially . The Texans gave up a 2022 fifth-round draft choice in exchange for Miller and the Bears' 2022 seventh-round pick. The Texans waived long snapper Mitchell Fraboni. Houston placed offensive tackle Marcus Cannon and guard Lane Taylor on the PUP list.
- The Atlanta Falcons waived running back Tony Brooks-James and signed offensive tackle Jason Spriggs and linebacker Emmanuel Ellerbee.
- The Miami Dolphins signed tight end Carson Meier and rookie tight end Hunter long, who was a third-round pick.
- The Minnesota Vikings' signing of former Jaguars receiver Dede Westbrook became official via the transaction wire. The team also signed a trio of third picks: guard Wyatt Davis, defensive end Patrick Jones and linebacker Chazz Surratt. Kicker Riley Patterson was placed on the PUP list.
- The Carolina Panthers signed third-round pick Tommy Tremble, a tight end.
- The Arizona Cardinals are expected to sign cornerback Daryl Worley, Rapoport reported Monday. Worley began his career as a starter with the Panthers and played for three teams in 2020. The team later announced it had signed Worley and offensive lineman Marcus Henry to one-year contracts.
- The Baltimore Ravens are signing former Raiders defensive lineman Chris Smith to a one-year deal, Rapoport reported via Smith's agent.
- The Washington Football Team and defensive lineman Jonathan Allen have agreed to a four-year, $72 million extension, according to Allen's agent.
