The New Orleans Saints Week 15 contest with the Kansas City Chiefs is crucial for both teams seeding ahead of the playoffs. The Michael Thomas injury status is especially key to New Orleans success this week. The Saints are desperate to remain in the hunt for the NFC number one seed after falling to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 14. However, Wednesday’s practice was troubling as the star wide receiver did not take the field.
Michael Thomas Injury Status Key To New Orleans Saints Success
Michael Thomas Injury Luck in 2020
Michael Thomas has endured a stop-start 2020 season for the Saints. The injury troubles began Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Thomas suffered an ankle injury that ruled him out of action for three weeks. Rumors circulated that Thomas’s ankle had not fully healed when he returned to practice after the teams Week 4 victory over the Detroit Lions.
The saga continued as New Orleans then handed their superstar receiver a one-game suspension as punishment for a fight in practice with safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, forcing Thomas to miss the Monday Night Football victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 5. A hamstring strain forced Thomas to miss a further two games following his suspension. In total, Thomas missed six games as a result of the injuries and suspension.
An Inconsistent Return
Thomas finally returned to the lineup in Week 9. He caught five passes for 51 yards in the Saints second victory of the season over the Buccaneers. However, that would be the receiver’s only full four quarters of action with quarterback Drew Brees to this point. Brees suffered his own major injury the next week against the San Francisco 49ers, and has been on the sidelines since.
With Brees injured, Thomas’s statistics have been inconsistent. Taysom Hill has been solid but certainly doesn’t enjoy the same type of chemistry Brees enjoys with Thomas. Consequently, heading into Week 15, Thomas has yet to catch a touchdown pass throughout the 2020 season.
Thomas’s injuries explain his drop in production overall. However, the Saints gameplan to run the ball in the RedZone with Brees not under center has clearly affected the receiver’s stats since returning. Hill offers such a dynamic threat as a running quarterback that Brees does not. Latavius Murray and Alvin Kamara have been very effective near the endzone as Sean Payton has leaned on the run game in Brees’ absence.
Michael Thomas Injury Status Crucial Against Kansas City Chiefs
The Saints won nine games in a row with Thomas on the sidelines and not a major part of the offense when he returned. He has racked up 100+ receiving yards only twice this season. Yet Saints fans should be worried if he’s not at full strength to face the Chiefs this week.
Kansas City has one of the best offenses in the league. Patrick Mahomes‘ efficiency may have dropped slightly this year, but they can still score fast and from anywhere on the field. Moreover, the Saints defense struggled mightily against Aaron Rodgers earlier in the season.
New Orleans need to score a lot of points this Sunday, and Michael Thomas gives them a chance to keep pace with the Chiefs. Kansas City has to account for Thomas whenever he is on the field. This is the same player who set the single-season record for receptions just last season. For the Saints offense to be at their efficient, time of possession controlling best, Thomas along with Alvin Kamara need to be the security blanket for Hill or Brees if he is to return.
New Orleans Saints Offense Need To Step Up
The pick-your-poison offense Kansas City enjoy with Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, and Sammy Watkins among others makes them special. However, with Thomas in the Saints lineup, New Orleans can spread the ball around just as effectively. The plethora of Saints receivers is well-rounded as back-ups to Thomas, who is the clear number one.
Emmanuel Sanders has been quietly productive his first season in New Orleans. Sanders went over 500 receiving yards for the season with a 37-yard touchdown reception in the loss to Philadelphia, the Saints most explosive play of the game on offense. Jared Cook has also made some big plays from the tight end position with Hill in at quarterback. He leads the team in touchdown receptions with six.
The Saints offense doesn’t rely on explosive long touchdowns. However, they may need a few to keep up with the Chiefs this Sunday. This Wednesday, Michael Thomas’s injury kept him out of practice. With him in the lineup, the Saints have a far better chance of keeping pace with Kansas City.
In such a crucial contest for the New Orleans number one seed ambitions, playing at full strength is a must.
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