Two Pro Bowl Wide Receivers Miss Practice for Saints

The New Orleans Saints could be operating with a threadbare receiving group when the Cincinnati Bengals come to town in Week 6. Wide Receivers Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry missed their second straight practice on Thursday. Thomas has missed the previous two weeks with a foot injury, and Landry has been dealing with an ankle injury that cost him Week 5's game against the Seattle Seahawks. Despite their absences, the Saints defeated the Seahawks 39-32 thanks to 235 rushing yards and huge plays from NFC Player of the Week Taysom Hill.

Should Thomas and Landry sit out, the Saints could be dangerously shorthanded for their Week 6 contest. Rookie wide receiver Chris Olave exited in Week 5 with a concussion and returned to limited action Thursday afternoon. His availability for Sunday's matchup against the Bengals is anything but guaranteed. Landry joined the Saints this offseason after a four-year stint with the Browns that saw him collect 288 receptions for 3560 yards. Signing with New Orleans was something of a homecoming for the five-time Pro Bowler; Landry was born in Louisiana and played his college ball at LSU. Since exploding in Week 1 for 114 yards on seven receptions, he has struggled to stay on the field and make an impact, accounting for only eight receptions and 54 yards in the past four weeks.

Thomas has spent his entire seven-year career with the Saints, compiling 6121 receiving yards in 73 appearances with the team. After missing 26 games from 2020 to 2021, the Saints hoped Thomas could rediscover the form that made him a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro this year, but he has only contributed 16 receptions for 171 receiving yards so far this season. 
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