When last week started, Michael Thomas was a safety on the 49ers practice squad.
It ended with Thomas intercepting a Tom Brady pass in the end zone to seal a 24-20 Dolphins victory that left them in position to take a playoff spot with victories in their last two games. In between was a phone call from Miami offering a job that Thomas nearly slept through and the whole thing has been capped with the NFL’s announcement that Thomas is the AFC defensive player of the week.
Thomas, pressed into expanded duty a few days after joining the team because of injuries all over the secondary, added a couple of pass breakups and tackles to that interception to further make his case for the weekly honors. There were other strong performances on defense on Sunday, but none had the same mix of a great individual story and the great team story of beating a division nemesis that you haven’t beaten in years.
The Dolphins are looking healthier in the defensive backfield this week, but Thomas’ successful debut will likely keep him in the mix for snaps for however long the Dolphins remain alive this season.
