The New Orleans Saints announced on Friday that running back Pierre Thomas will miss Saturday’s wild card playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles with a back injury.
Thomas led the Saints with 549 rushing yards this season, and he also made a major impact in the passing game with 77 receptions for 513 yards and three touchdowns.
The 29-year-old veteran suffered the injury in the team’s 42-17 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17.
Luckily for the Saints, they have enough depth at running back without Thomas to open up play-action opportunities for quarterback Drew Brees against an Eagles defense that ranks 32nd against the pass. Second-year running back Mark Ingram and veteran Darren Sproles should play larger roles in the offense Saturday night in Philadelphia.
New Orleans has never won a playoff game on the road (0-5).
