Saints will be without their top two receivers
METAIRIE, La. — New Orleans Saints receiver Emmanuel Sanders has tested positive for the coronavirus and Michael Thomas remained unable to practice on Friday because of a recent hamstring injury. Neither will be able to play Sunday against Carolina.
Thomas, the 2019 AP Offensive Player of the Year after setting an NFL record with149 catches in a season, was listed as out on the Saints’ final injury report of the week. He has not played since the season opener, when he caught three passes for 17 yards before spraining his ankle when running back Latavius Murray was tackled into the back of the star receiver’s lower legs.
Thomas was on schedule to return from the ankle injury in Week 5, only to be benched because of an outburst at practice in which he punched defensive back C.J. GardnerJohnson. His punishment was lifted during the Saints’ Week 6 bye, but now he has a new lower-body injury, the severity of which Saints coach Sean Payton did not want to discuss.
Sanders had a career-high12 catches for122 yards in New Orleans’ last game, a 30-27 triumph over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 5.