Kamara and Thomas set to go Sunday

The Saints activated running back Alvin Kamara and wide receiver Michael Thomas for the team’s playoff game Sunday against the Bears.

Kamara missed the regular-season finale last Sunday because of COVID-19 protocols, while Thomas was on injured reserve for the final three games because of a nagging ankle injury.

The Saints also announced Saturday that wide receiver/return specialist Deonte Harris and cornerback Patrick Robinson were activated from injured reserve; wide receiver Jake Kumerow was waived; offensive lineman Nick Easton was placed on IR; and linebacker Chase Hansen and wide receiver Lil’jordan Humphrey were elevated from the practice squad.

Kamara led the Saints in yards rushing (932) and yards receiving (756) in 15 games. He also set Saints records for TDS rushing in a season with 15 and total TDS in a season with 21. He was placed on the reserve/covid-19 list last week after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Thomas, the 2019 AP Offensive Player of the Year, has missed nine games this season because of the ankle issues but returned to practice this week. He had 40 catches for 438 yards and no touchdowns in seven games during the regular season.

Bears will be without Mooney, Smith vs. Saints: Bears have ruled out leading tackler Roquan Smith and second-leading receiver Darnell Mooney for their wild card game against the Saints on Sunday.

They were injured in the regular season finale against the Packers and did not practice during the week.

Smith injured his left elbow and Mooney suffered an ankle injury after setting career highs with 11 catches for 93 yards.

Smith’s injury leaves the Bears without a disruptive force at inside linebacker and makes containing the Saints much more difficult, particularly with star running back Alvin Kamara activated after missing last week’s win over Carolina because of COVID-19 concerns. Smith had a career-high 139 tackles and ranked second in the league with 18 tackles for loss.

The Bears also activated linebacker Manti Te’o and defensive back Marqui Christian from the practice squad on Saturday.

Steelers getting reinforcements: The Steelers activated linebacker Robert Spillane and guard Matt Feiler from injured reserve on Saturday.

Spillane, who took the place of Devin Bush when he was injured in the Week 6 matchup against the Browns, has been a major factor in stopping the run — something that will be especially important against Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.

Spillane, who has 39 solo tackles, two sacks, a fumble recovery and a pick-six, helps fortify an inside linebacker position that was down to just three healthy players at the end of the regular season.

On the line, Feiler is expected to replace rookie guard Kevin Dotson, who’s been holding down the position since Feiler’s pectoral injury.

No comeback this time for Reich: Colts coach Frank Reich couldn’t manufacture another comeback in Buffalo.

Back in Bills Stadium for the playoffs some 28 years after the former backup quarterback rallied the Bills to overcome the largest deficit in NFL history, Reich could only watch as the Colts fell short in a 27-24 wild-card playoff loss on Saturday.

“It’s very hard to stomach,” Reich said. “When you get in the playoffs and you have a good team and you know you can do it — I know we have a team to go all the way. We had chances. We just didn’t get it done.”

After squandering scoring opportunities through three quarters, the Colts finally mustered a response when trailing 24-10.

Rivers engineered consecutive touchdown drives over a six-minute span before coming up empty on the Colts’ final possession.

The game ended with Rivers throwing three consecutive incompletions, including a 47-yard desperation pass intended for T.Y. Hilton that was batted down by safety Micah Hyde with no time remaining.

For Reich, it happened in the same setting in which he stepped in for injured Hall of Fame QB Jim Kelly and helped the Bills rally from a 35-3 third-quarter deficit for a 41-38 overtime win against the Houston Oilers in a game known simply as “The Comeback.”

A week after the Colts were thanking the AFC East champion Bills for beating the Dolphins in helping them clinch the AFC’S seventh and final playoff spot, Colts players were left blaming themselves for not taking advantage of the opportunities.

The offense lacked finish in managing 24 points in a game the Colts crossed midfield on all nine possessions, converted nine of 17 third-down chances and owned a healthy eight-minute edge in time of possession.

The Colts also failed to score on four chances from inside Buffalo’s 4 in the final two minutes of the second quarter.