Sources — Saints expect WR Michael Thomas to miss game vs. Raiders – ESPN

METAIRIE, La.– Michael Thomas status is “week to week” after the New Orleans Saints large receiver suffered a high ankle injury in the final minutes of Sundays win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, sources informed ESPN.
The Saints expect Thomas to miss their video game versus the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football, sources said, because high ankle sprains normally sideline gamers for three to 4 weeks.
Nevertheless, Thomas is not convinced he will miss out on time and wishes to come back as quickly as possible.
The Saints have actually discussed the idea of placing Thomas, 27, on injured reserve– which would sideline him for a minimum of 3 weeks– but Thomas has actually opposed the concept because he wants to return earlier, sources said.
Thomas has missed just one game due to injury in his career– as a novice in 2016. His lack would leave a substantial space in New Orleans offense; Thomas just set the NFL record with 149 catches last season for 1,725 yards and 9 goals.
Nevertheless, the Saints did simply beat Tampa Bay 34-23 on Sunday despite Thomas having his quietest statistical output in three years (3 catches for 17 yards). Thomas limped off the field right before the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter after having his leg rolled into by running back Latavius Murray. The Fox broadcast revealed Thomas standing on the sideline soon later without any covers or ice.
In spite of the success, both Saints coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees described their efficiencies as “dreadful,” promising to have cleaner offending outputs going forward. That might end up being a more complicated task now.
If Thomas misses out on time, the Saints offseason signing of veteran pass receiver Emmanuel Sanders will become much more crucial. Sanders caught three passes for 15 backyards and a goal in his Saints debut Sunday. Running back Alvin Kamara, tight end Jared Cook, quarterback/tight end Taysom Hill and receivers TreQuan Smith, Deonte Harris and Bennie Fowler might all play larger roles in New Orleans passing game as well.