When Will Pierre Thomas Return?

in the game thread for one of the preseason games that a buddy of mine had a feeling that PT just MIGHT end up on IR, and was told I needed a new buddy. If they can keep getting good numbers from Bell it may not be a bad idea to not risk further injury to PT, put him on IR and bring P J Hill up from the practice squad. Hamilton and Hill both showed potential and flashes of brilliance in preseason. It just may not be worth risking playing PT when they have the depth they have at RB this year

Let’s all take a deep breathe, and let a little reality soak in. If he is probable for this game, that almost definitely means he will be able to play next week. Why would we put someone on IR that will be healthy for all but the 1st two games?

As far as PT vs Bell is concerned…

I think they have fairly similar running styles, and would produce about the same given the same opportunities. That being said, I would prefer to have Bell and Thomas split the carries the RB is getting(Assuming Reggie is not getting more than 5 hand-offs). That way we have fresh legs in at all times.

Personally, I think it’s kind of a raw deal if PT never gets his shot, and by shot I mean getting 20 plus carries in the first 3-4 games this year. I think the likelihood of that is so slim, due to Bell’s performance. Which is easy to swallow as a Saint, but as a guy who has been pulling for PT, I just want to see what he can do all by his lonesome, and only get a rest when needed.

PS Depending on how PT runs this year, referring to his style, I could see Bell filling the Aaron Stecker mold.

If the Jets are getting into hot water for hiding Favre’s shoulder injury last year, why aren’t the Saints in trouble for keeping Will Smith’s groin/hernia under wraps for so long last season?

Is there some difference between these two cases that I’m unaware of?

He’s any more injured than they’ve said he is. He’s got a bad sprain in his knee, and we have usable depth at rb so that he doesn’t have to play hurt right now. It all sounds pretty above board to me. I think he’ll show up at least briefly in the coming game, just to prove he’s not out, but as log as Bell is performing well, I imagine Payton is happy to lay off him as long as possible. If they are actually trying to conceal a surgery on his knee, that’s pretty diabolical, and I wouldn’t put it past any NFL coaches entirely, but I don’t really believe that.

is that PT is about where they say he is. I don’t expect him to sit out for the season, but I could see him having limited touches untill December if Bell continues to be a decent/solid option at RB along with Reggie. I think it will also depend on how our playoff picture looks later in the season. I voted for the Giants game in week 5 that way it has plenty of time to heal. I hope they take it slow and don’t rush it. I think we can create enough offense with our new looking defense to win all 4 games before that. The Giants game will be tough to call as of right now because we played the Lions week 1 and although they are a new and improved team, they haven’t proven anything just yet. If Bell does well in the next 3 games, it could be later than the Giants game. That wouldn’t be too bad of a problem.

I say let him get 100% before putting him in. It’s a long season and we have many other options to generate offense.I think Bell will do just fine until PT can return.

PT is active