METAIRIE, La. – The New Orleans Saints are even thinner on the big receiver after placing Tre’Quan Smith on reserve injured with an ankle injury he suffered in Sunday’s 32-29 loss to the Kansas Chiefs City.
Smith, who is a prominent blocker, in addition to his captivating role, will have to lose at least three games, including opening the Saints playoffs.
Saints receivers Michael Thomas (ankle) and Deonte Harris (neck) are already on IR for the rest of the regular season, though coach Sean Payton said the goal is for Thomas to get closer to 100% as possible for the start of the season. playoffs.
“I just heard from Mike that it was very clear,” Payton said. “Man, he was grinding and productive and he caught eight balls, nine balls. But he wouldn’t improve until football stopped, just because of the nature of the ankle sprain. And so look, if it was” win this , you get in or not “, then I think our approach would have been very different. But we have the feeling that it may be closer to 100% and I don’t know if it’s exactly 100%. – But closer of top speed. And that’s a great asset for us. And, to be fair to him, we now have a little bit of that luxury. “
The Saints (10-4) has secured a place in the playoffs. And they can get their fourth consecutive NFC South title with one more win or one loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5) over the past two weeks. The Saints still have an outside shot against the No. 1 NFC, but they need help from other teams.
New Orleans has lost two games in a row and the receiver’s lack of depth was noticed in Sunday’s loss to Kansas City. Drew Brees started to go 0 for 6 for the first time in his career before trying to get the Saints back with three touchdown passes.
On a positive note, the Saints activated rookie receiver Marquez Callaway off the IR list in time for Friday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. Callaway grabbed eight passes for 75 yards in a game earlier this season, when the Saints ’receiving position was reduced in the same way. New Orleans active receivers for Friday will be Emmanuel Sanders, Callaway, Austin Carr, Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Juwan Johnson.
Smith, selected for the third round of the Central Florida Draft, set maximums in his third NFL season with 34 catches and 448 yards before suffering an ankle injury Sunday. He had four touchdown catches: a timid one of the five he had in each of his first two seasons.
The Saints also ruled out starting free safety Marcus Williams (ankle) and part-time starting guard Nick Easton (concussion).
Guard Andrus Peat (ankle), defensive end Trey Hendrickson (neck) and defensive attack Malcom Brown (calf) are questionable.