Thomas (hamstring) was seen working out on a side field during Monday's practice, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.
It's a sign of progress, though it doesn't necessarily mean Thomas is ready for a return to practice. Thomas has already spent the three-game minimum on injured reserve, and while he's technically eligible to return for Sunday's game against Denver, head coach Ron Rivera doesn't seem optimistic. Rivera used the term "week-to-week" to describe Thomas as recently as Monday, hinting that the tight end is unlikely to return before the Week 9 bye. The team has deployed Ricky Seals-Jones in an every-down role at tight end in Thomas' absence.