New Orleans Saints wideout Michael Thomas is making progress towards returning to the field, which is good news for a Saints team that so desperately needs his services (via NFL Network's Ian Rapoport).

Thomas has been away from action since Week 1 when he sustained an ankle injury against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His return to practice doesn't put him at an immediate return to the field for the Saints Week 4 bout against the Detroit Lions, but it surely does release a breath of fresh air into a New Orleans squad that could surely use his talents sooner than later.

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Other than running back Alvin Kamara continuing to dominate, the Saints offense hasn't had much to gloat about. Fans are inches away from pushing the panic button on an aging Drew Brees that hasn't looked like his normal self for most of the season so far, though his stats may suggest otherwise. Having Thomas back could help bolster the offensive side while giving Brees another option downfield.

Coming into the 2020 season, Thomas had been selected to the Pro Bowl in three consecutive seasons. He'd recently as of just last season also set a new record for most catches in a season with 149 receptions. He finished the season with a catching percentage at 80.5 while also having a career-high 1,725 receiving yards.

In his absence, Kamara has taken on the mantle of the receiving game. He leads the team in receiving yards with 285 so far for the season. He's also caught 87.1 percent of his passes. The Saints will look to break even with a .500 record against a Lions squad looking to do the same in return. If the Lions defense that gave the Cardinals problems in Week 3 shows up against the Saints, it could be a long game.