Saints place WR Thomas on IR

Saints placed receiver Michael Thomas on injured reserve on Saturday, a move that allows the Saints to give ahealthy player Thomas’active roster spot for their final three regular-season games while resting their star receiver for the playoffs.

Thomas, the 2019 AP Offensive Player of the Year, has been bothered by an ankle injury since Week1oftheseasonandalreadyhadbeenruledout for Sunday’s gameagainst the Chiefs. It will be the seventh time this season Thomas has been scratched.

Undercurrent NFLrulesadopted in response to the coronavirus pandemic, players may return from injured reserve after as few as three games. The Saints also placed 2019 All-Pro returner Deonte Harris on injured reserve. Harris had been inactive the previous three games because of a neck injury. Thomas will finish the 2020 regular season having played in seven games, catching 40 passes for 438 yards and notouchdowns. That comesoneseason after his NFL-record 149 catches for 1,725 yards and nine TDs.