Saints' Michael Thomas Played With Pain Just To Play With Drew Brees

No one can accuse New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas of not trying. Apparently, he will need multiple surgeries on his ankle after playing in pain all season.

Word is, Thomas' ankle was bothering him since Week 1. But Thomas had a feeling this was the final season for legendary quarterback Drew Brees -- and Thomas didn't want to miss it, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported. So Thomas played through the pain.

Per Schefter, Thomas is "likely to have surgeries on both the torn deltoid and other injured ligaments in his high ankle this offseason."

Thomas injured the ankle in the opener, then sat out until Week 9. He lasted until Week 14, then hit the injured reserve to get himself to the playoffs.

It was a productive first round for Thomas, as he caught five passes for 73 yards in the win over the Chicago Bears. But he didn't have a catch in last weekend's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

For the record, Brees has not confirmed rumors that he is retiring. But it sure feels that way, and Thomas believed it so much that he played through some serious pain.