The Los Angeles Rams' 53-man roster will be tough to crack for many, especially offensive players. But perhaps not for Mike Thomas, who's spent three seasons with the team with little production to show for it. Despite playing one game in 2018, he's separated himself from others in the battle to be a depth option at receiver for Los Angeles.
“He’s done a really good job,” head coach Sean McVay said on Tuesday, per USA TODAY's Cameron DeSilva.
“Mike is a guy that I’ve always been a huge fan of, extremely tough competitor, he’s got great speed, I think he’s catching the ball really consistently. Eric Yarber and Liam Coen — our receivers coaches — have done a great job really with that group as a whole. In a lot of instances, you talk about Brandin [Cooks], Robert [Woods], Cooper [Kupp] – Josh Reynolds now has really ascended to where you’re talking about him. And then I think Mike Thomas has really separated himself as one of those guys that stands out with the way that he’s consistently played.”
Thomas is vying for the fifth receiver spot — behind Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, and Josh Reynolds — as are Khadarel Hodge, Austin Proehl, Nsimba Webster, Jalen Greene, Alex Bachman, and Johnathan Lloyd. Needless to say, it seems to be his for the taking now.
Thomas has excited the Rams' coaching staff before, but injuries and suspensions have played a key role in stopping previous hype trains. In 2017, he earned a four-game suspension by the NFL for PEDs, and last season he logged just one active game after being placed on the injured reserve due to a groin.
“It’s really never been an issue about talent. He’s kind of had some unfortunate issues that have kept him out of the lineup due to injury, but he’s a special guy. Just love his consistent demeanor, he’s really valuable for ‘Bones’ [special teams coordinator John Fassel], but he’s a guy that we’re hoping can stay healthy because he can definitely help us at that receiver position,” McVay said, via USA Today.
It sounds like Thomas is settling into the rotation nicely in Los Angeles.
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