METAIRIE, La. – The New Orleans Saints expect to recover Michael Thomas from the injured reserve in time for Sunday’s playoff opening against the Chicago Bears. When asked if Alvin Kamara could join him, coach Sean Payton said, “We’ll see.”
The Saints (2-4) had a programming break when their game was scheduled for Sunday afternoon instead of Saturday – as Sunday is the first day Kamara will be eligible to return from the reserve list / COVID 19 if he pass all COVID protocols during the week.
However, Kamara will not be able to practice or be around the team before game day.
“Obviously, anything during the week will have to be Zoom,” said Payton, who was asked Monday whether he would consider using Kamara or any other player in a playoff game, despite the fact that he was away from the team all week.
“I think it would depend on the player and the situation,” Payton said. “But a lot of that will be just our decision, depending on where we think we’re with the week, the player. We have to be smart.”
Kamara’s condition will also depend on further testing of COVID and whether or not he develops symptoms during the week. However, if he is eligible, it would seem likely that the saints will try to use him in a certain capacity, given his value to the team.
Kamara just equaled a 91-year-old NFL record with six touchdown rounds in Week 16, before being eliminated in Week 17. He led the NFL with 21 touchdowns this season and finished in place. three in the league, with a score of 1,688 meters.
With or without Kamara in line, the Saints should have eligible backbacks – including veteran Latavius Murray, who ran 119 yards and two touchdowns against the Bears last season, while Kamara was injured.
Murray, defender Dwayne Washington and defender Michael Burton were ruled out for week 17 on Saturday because they were considered close risk contacts with Kamara. All will be eligible to return earlier this week if they do not give positive results. RB / WR veteran Ty Montgomery completed in the last minute and ended up running 105 meters in the Saints’ 33-7 victory over Carolina.
Meanwhile, Thomas is expected to approach full health this week after a minimum of three weeks in the injured reserve. This will be great for an offense of the Saints, who only had Thomas and defender Drew Brees healthy on the field together for a total of 10 quarters this season.
Thomas struggled with a painful ankle sprain all year after suffering it for the first time in week 1. He returned in week 9 and played six more games. But Payton said the team decided to rest him for the past three weeks so the ankle had time to get as close as possible to 100%.
Brees reiterated Sunday night that “I know we’re getting Mike Thomas back – I think the last three weeks they’ve been down have been great for him.”
And Brees seems to be repairing the 11 broken ribs and the perforated lung that put him out of weeks 11-14. Brees showed his best pace and timing of week 17, completing 22 of 32 passes for 201 meters and three touchdowns.
“Obviously we wanted to end the season by continuing to climb and I think for me, we continue to feel healthier and more comfortable every week,” Brees said after the game.