The Saints, as expected, activated three former Pro Bowl players Saturday, while the Bears revealed they’ll participate in Sunday’s playoff game in New Orleans without two of their best young weapons.
The Saints took star running back Alvin Kamara off the reserve/COVID-19 list 10 days after he tested positive for the coronavirus. They removed Michael Thomas, who last year set the NFL record for receptions in a season, from injured reserve after he recovered from an ankle injury. Return standout Deonte Harris came off IR after the same three-week absence; he was dealing with a neck problem.
The Bears, meanwhile, will be without their best defensive player — inside linebacker Roquan Smith was ruled out, as was rookie wide receiver Darnell Mooney. Although neither practiced all week, the Bears called them questionable Friday only to downgrade them the next day.
Mooney injured his ankle in the fourth quarter against the Packers. Smith, who was named a second-team all-pro this week, suffered a grisly left elbow injury in the first quarter.
“There’s complete domination in the way he’s playing,” Bears coach Matt Nagy said of Smith this week. “He’s playing on another level. So when you lose that, that’s part of football.”
The Bears will miss Smith’s sideline-to-sideline speed when defending Kamara, who had 96 receiving yards and 67 rushing yards in their first meeting Nov. 1. Kamara hasn’t practiced since testing positive on the heels of his six-touchdown performance Christmas Day against the Vikings.
“You’re talking about a guy that has a lot of different intangibles to his game and more strengths than weaknesses,” outside linebacker Khalil Mack said this week. “It’s going to be a challenge to go out and make sure he doesn’t affect the game the way he has been all year long.”
The Saints have had quarterback Drew Brees on the field alongside Kamara and Thomas for only 10 quarters this season.
For depth at inside linebacker, the Bears promoted Manti Te’o, the former Notre Dame star, off the practice squad. Te’o played for the Saints from 2017-19 but figures to back up either Josh Woods, who is questionable with toe and glute injuries, or Joel Iyiegbuniwe.
Marqui Christian, a safety and special teamer, will be on the Bears’ active roster, too.
The Saints also added cornerback Patrick Robinson, linebacker Chase Hansen and receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey to the active roster. Guard Nick Easton, who was ruled out Friday with a concussion, was put on IR.
