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Mike Thomas | Wide Receiver

Team: Detroit Lions
Age / DOB:  (25) / 6/4/1987
Ht / Wt:  5'8' / 198
College: Arizona
Contract: view contract details
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Latest News

Recent News

By keeping WR Mike Thomas on the roster beyond last Friday, the Lions guaranteed $1 million of his 2013 base salary.
When the Lions acquired Thomas for a fifth-round pick last season, they surely expected more than five catches over nine games. It's a surprising decision from Detroit's standpoint after Thomas was benched for Kris Durham down the stretch. GM Martin Mayhew will hope an offseason to learn the offense improves drop-prone Thomas' production. We're much less optimistic. Apr 8 - 6:24 PM
Source: Dave Birkett on Twitter

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Player News

Date:
Mike Thomas - WR - Lions

Mike Thomas caught one pass for seven yards in Detroit's Week 17 loss to the Bears.

It means Thomas will finish 2012 with just 18 catches for 101 yards in 16 games. Only five of his grabs came in a Lions uniform — which he wore for nine games — despite the fact that Detroit had perhaps the league's most injury-ravaged receiver corps. Signed for $1.45 million next season, Thomas will be released, and hard-pressed to earn any guaranteed money on the open market.
Sun, Dec 30, 2012 05:49:00 PM
Mike Thomas - WR - Lions

Mike Thomas caught one pass for five yards in the Saturday's loss to the Falcons.

Since coming over from the Jaguars, Thomas has been a major disappointment. He still doesn't have a defined role in the Lions' offense and continues to see less targets than Kris Durham and Tony Scheffler. He'll remain off the fantasy radar for Week 17 against the Bears.
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 01:43:00 AM
Mike Thomas - WR - Lions

Mike Thomas acknowledges that he's been held back while trying to learn the Lions offense.

"We're not so much experimenting, but finding what's the true position for him," said OC Scott Linehan, "while some other guys probably have a little head start on him as far as knowing the offense." Thomas has been a major disappointment, failing to catch a pass in Weeks 14-15 while being lapped by fringe roster types Kris Durham and Brian Robiskie.
Source: detroitlions.com
Fri, Dec 21, 2012 12:26:00 PM
Mike Thomas - WR - Lions

Mike Thomas was held without a catch in Detroit's Week 14 loss to the Packers, though he did rush twice for 25 yards.

Surprisingly passed over for starting honors by practice-squad signee Kris Durham, Thomas was supposedly manning the slot, but drew zero targets on a night where Matthew Stafford attempted 45 passes. Although it's possible Thomas will surpass an unimpressive Durham in Week 15, he's nowhere near the fantasy radar, even in Detroit's pass-happy offense.
Mon, Dec 10, 2012 12:43:00 AM
Mike Thomas - WR - Lions

Lions WR Kris Durham -- not Mike Thomas -- will start opposite Calvin Johnson on Sunday Night Football.

A fourth-round pick of the Seahawks last season, Durham was signed off the practice squad just five days ago. Thomas is still expected to man the slot in three-receiver sets, however. If for some reason you need to start a Lions receiver not named Calvin Johnson in an exceptionally-deep league, Thomas is the safer choice.
Related: Kris Durham
Source: detroitlions.com
Sun, Dec 9, 2012 07:08:00 PM
Mike Thomas - WR - Lions

Lions OC Scott Linehan suggested that Mike Thomas will handle much of the slot work in three-receiver sets.

Thomas is expected to be the next man up to start opposite Calvin Johnson, but he'll move inside in sure-fire passing situations. Linehan also mentioned Brian Robiskie as a guy that's a "very good route runner" who has "excellent hands." Robiskie and Thomas will be needed to make some plays to keep defenses from putting a stranglehold on Megatron. We'll get our first look at how the Lions' pecking order will shake out tonight on Sunday Night Football in Green Bay.
Source: MLive.com
Sun, Dec 9, 2012 08:34:00 AM
Mike Thomas - WR - Lions

The Detroit Free Press confirms Mike Thomas "is sure to see the bulk of the playing time" opposite Calvin Johnson with Ryan Broyles out for the season.

Thomas played 90 percent of the snaps in last week's game. He and Tony Scheffler figure to see the biggest bumps in targets with Broyles out and Titus Young as persona non grata in Detroit. Thomas is worthy of a speculative waiver add as a WR4/5, but keep expectations low. He's been a drop-prone disappointment the past two years.
Related: Tony Scheffler, Brian Robiskie, Kris Durham
Source: Detroit Free Press
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 01:58:00 PM
Mike Thomas - WR - Lions

Mike Thomas caught one pass for negative-one yards in the Lions' Week 13 loss to the Colts.

It would have been a predictable line if Thomas was backing up Ryan Broyles and playing behind Tony Scheffler in the slot. He wasn't. Broyles went down with a knee injury five minutes into the game, leaving Thomas to play the majority of snaps out wide opposite Calvin Johnson. He responded by dropping an easy slant in the end zone and hauling in one of his four targets. Still, the Lions might have no choice but to use Thomas as an every-down receiver in Week 14. He's on the waiver-wire radar in deep formats as we await word on Broyles and the status of Titus Young.
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 06:09:00 PM
Mike Thomas - WR - Lions

Mike Thomas caught two passes for 17 yards with a touchdown in the Lions' Week 12 overtime loss to the Texans.

Thomas was the No. 3 wideout behind Calvin Johnson and Ryan Broyles. It resulted in a meager six targets even though Matthew Stafford attempted 61 passes. Thomas may very well get passed up by Titus Young in Week 13, capping any upside at all. Leave the ex-Jaguar on waiver wires.
Thu, Nov 22, 2012 05:12:00 PM
Mike Thomas - WR - Lions

Mike Thomas and Ryan Broyles were both introduced as starting receivers opposite Calvin Johnson for the Lions' Thanksgiving game.

It's too late to change lineups, of course, but it's something to keep an eye on heading into Week 13. It's a sign we can expect a lot of three-wide sets from the Lions against a team that surrendered 354 yards to Chad Henne less than 96 hours ago.
Related: Ryan Broyles
Source: Dave Birkett on Twitter
Thu, Nov 22, 2012 12:34:00 PM
Mike Thomas - WR - Lions

Mike Thomas is expected to start in place of Titus Young (suspension) against the Texans Thursday.

Ryan Broyles will stick in the slot position while Thomas fills Young's outside role. Both players project to see a boost in targets, but they'll be afterthoughts behind Calvin Johnson and Brandon Pettigrew. Young had caught more than two balls in a game just four times all year anyway. Despite last week's debacle against the Jaguars, the Texans' pass defense still ranks seventh in the league.
Related: Ryan Broyles
Source: Detroit Free Press
Tue, Nov 20, 2012 09:51:00 AM
Mike Thomas - WR - Lions

The Lions envision newly acquired WR Mike Thomas as an "offensive utility player" and special teamer.

It's confirmation that Thomas isn't a threat to Ryan Broyles' slot job. The Lions traded for Thomas primarily because they were high on him coming out of college and still believe he can add quality depth in a variety of roles. He can be the No. 4 receiver and primary backup at all three wideout spots.
Related: Mike Thomas
Source: Detroit News
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 06:48:00 PM
Mike Thomas - WR - Lions

The Lions were reportedly "highly interested" in Mike Thomas coming out of Arizona in the 2009 draft.

They ended up drafting Derrick Williams instead, only to turn around and dump him last season. Thomas is expected to fill a wide variety of roles in Detroit, including the occasional backfield snap "in a Jahvid Best-type role." We suspect his biggest on-field impact will come on returns, as Stefan Logan has come under fire for a trio of recent fumbles.
Source: Detroit Free Press
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 07:08:00 PM
Mike Thomas - WR - Lions

Lions acquired WR/PR Mike Thomas from the Jaguars in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick.

It's an understandable trade from Jacksonville's point of view. Thomas failed to endear himself to Mike Mularkey's coaching staff, wasn't worthy of his $4.95 million in salary and bonuses, and had fallen far behind emerging go-to receiver Cecil Shorts. Although Thomas will provide depth in Detroit at wide receiver and punt returner, he doesn't figure to be a threat to Ryan Broyles' slot receiver role. Broyles has impressed since Nate Burleson went down two weeks ago. With an average of 11 targets, six receptions and 97.5 yards the past two weeks, Shorts should be added in 12-team leagues.
Related: Jaguars, Cecil Shorts, Ryan Broyles
Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 04:30:00 PM

Depth Charts

Skill Players
PosRoleName
QB1Matthew Stafford
2Shaun Hill
3Kellen Moore
4Alex Carder
RB1Reggie Bush
2Mikel Leshoure
3Joique Bell
4Theo Riddick
5Steven Miller
GLB1Mikel Leshoure
2Reggie Bush
3RB1Reggie Bush
2Joique Bell
FB1Shaun Chapas
WR11Calvin Johnson
2Ryan Broyles
3Mike Thomas
4Brian Robiskie
5Chastin West
WR21Nate Burleson
2Corey Fuller
3Kris Durham
4Lance Long
5Devin Thomas
WR31Ryan Broyles
TE1Brandon Pettigrew
2Tony Scheffler
3Michael Williams
4Dominique Curry
5Nathan Overbay
K1David Akers
2Havard Rugland