NFL Rumors: Saints to Be Without Three Stars for TNF

The New Orleans Saints are coming off a tough Week 6 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, and if they intend to bounce back on a short week, they'll have to do it without three of their best players. Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com reports cornerback Marshon Lattimore and wide receivers Mike Thomas and Jarvis Landry will likely miss the team's Thursday Night Football matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

Told this morning that the Saints do not expect to have Marshon Lattimore, Mike Thomas or Jarvis Landry back in time for the Cardinals game on Thursday night. There's optimism that Chris Olave will be back, though.
— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_) October 17, 2022

Lattimore, Thomas, and Landry were all absent on Sunday with their injuries. Lattimore suffered an abdomen injury in Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks. Landry has missed the previous two weeks with an ankle injury. Thomas has been out since Week 3 with a nagging foot injury.

The Saints offense has overperformed of late despite the unavailability of arguably their two best wide receivers. The team has scored 30 points per game over the last three weeks under backup quarterback Andy Dalton, but they only have a 1-2 record to show for it.

The Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints face off on Thursday Night Football in a matchup of disappointing 2-4 teams. If the Saints are going to remain in the playoff race this season, they'll need to begin winning their close games. They've lost their previous two games by a combined nine points. A few extra big plays by big players could have gone a long way.