New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton was in no mood to discuss Pierre Thomas’ sprained right ankle on Friday.
The team has listed the running back as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after he apparently tweaked the ankle during practice on Friday, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Thomas was not on the injury report Wednesday or Thursday.
It’s the same ankle he injured in Week 3, an injury that forced him to miss nine weeks. Thomas was on his game Monday night in the Saints’ win at Atlanta, totaling 101 yards. Per the report, Payton said Thomas was questionable based on his reps in practice, not a new injury or the return of an old one.
“No, we just listed him just as it is, just less reps because of the ankle, limited," he said.
Pressed on the matter, Payton refused to shed any more light on the matter. The Saints’ running game has been in shambles for much of the season. With Thomas and Reggie Bush healthy, things were looking up. They have to be hoping this is nothing serious. Bush (chest) and fellow running back Chris Ivory (hamstring) are probable for Sunday.
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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune