New Orleans Saints Release Former Ohio State Wide Receiver Michael Thomas

The New Orleans Saints released the former Ohio State wide receiver on Wednesday, ending his tenure with the Saints after eight seasons. Thomas was released with a failed physical designation, according to multiple reports.

The Saints released Michael Thomas and Jameis Winston as Post June 1 cuts today, as expected. Thomas, who was on IR with a knee injury, was listed with a failed physical designation.

— Katherine Terrell (@Kat_Terrell) March 13, 2024

Thomas’ release had been expected. According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the restructured contract Thomas signed with the Saints last season was structured so that they would be required to release him on Wednesday, allowing him to test the open market for the first time in his NFL career.

A second-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft, Thomas started his NFL career spectacularly, catching 470 passes for 5,512 yards and 32 touchdowns in his first four seasons. Thomas made three straight Pro Bowls from 2017-19 and earned NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2019 when he broke the league’s single-season record with 149 receptions, which went for 1,725 yards.

Thomas became the NFL’s highest-paid receiver before the 2019 season when he signed a five-year, $100 million contract extension with the Saints, keeping him in New Orleans through this past season.

Since his record-setting 2019 campaign, however, Thomas’ last four years have been plagued by repeated injuries. He has played in just 20 games since 2020, catching just 141 total passes for 1,057 yards and four touchdowns. He is coming off a knee injury that ended his 2023 season early in November.

Thomas, who turned 31 earlier this month, will now look to get his NFL career back on track with a new team.

He was one of two former Ohio State players released by their teams on Wednesday. Vonn Bell was also officially released Wednesday after the Carolina Panthers decided to part ways with the former Buckeye safety on Monday.