Saints suspend Michael Thomas for Week 5 after altercation in practice

The New Orleans Saints have suspended WR Michael Thomas for Week 5’s game with the Los Angeles Chargers after a fight in practice, per ESPN.

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The New Orleans Saints created a stir on Sunday by ruling out star wide receiver Michael Thomas for Monday night’s game with the Los Angeles Chargers after previously listing him as questionable to play with an ankle injury, explaining it as a team disciplinary measure. And now we have some details.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Thomas was involved in “an altercation with a teammate at practice this weekend,” and the Saints are sidelining him for Week 5’s matchup as a disciplinary measure. It’s unclear which Saints player Thomas fought with or under what circumstances.

It’s a very unusual situation. The Saints are on bye in Week 6, so Thomas should be expected to return for Week 7’s game against the Carolina Panthers. But this remains a bizarre subplot. 2020, y’all.

Update: More details have been reported by NFL insider Josina Anderson, who adds that Thomas was ejected from practice on Friday after the altercation. A Sunday meeting with Saints coach Sean Payton resulted in Thomas being fined for conduct detrimental to the team and the one-game suspension.

However, this doesn’t line up with everything we know. Thomas was seen at the Saints’ practice on Saturday and was listed as participating on a limited basis, which has been the case for the last two weeks. So Anderson either confused Friday and Saturday, or Thomas was on his best behavior to close out the week but still received discipline from Payton. Stay tuned.

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