Honestly, I’m kinda suspecting that Mike may be alive after all, because you’ve got this all of a sudden –

Speaking of Jason Sudeikis and Mike, what odds would you give that we will see him at one point or another this season?
Very, very low odds. But we love making low-odds choices from time to time.

And this interview where Will Forte confirms that the sports balls, last seen with Mike, will be back in a ‘very emotional moment’. So either Mike is alive or Phil will, I dunno, prise them from his skeleton. (Which, in this show, wouldn’t actually be surprising, but still.)

Also the ‘previously on’ recap didn’t mention Mike was dead, just that he went away. HE’S ALIVE, HE’S STILL ALIVE, POSSIBLY