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"It’s been a terrible nightmare,’’ is how Thomas described his two-month-plus rehabilitation and...

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"It’s been a terrible nightmare,’’ is how Thomas described his two-month-plus rehabilitation and recovery since suffering the injury against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3. "It’s like a Freddy Krueger nightmare. It feels real … it is real.’’ Thomas essentially is being evaluated this week by Saints Coach Sean Payton, who ultimately will determine if the fourth-year running back is prepared to deal with the rigors of a game. "I told the defense in practice, ‘let’s act like it’s a game. (When) you see me running the ball, hit me like you’re playing in a game. If I go down (and) you have to take my legs, try to do that,’ ’’ Thomas said. "Being a running back, they grab at you around the ankles, they twist it and you get turned around. I’d rather have it happen at practice than in a game, so I can be game ready. I want to feel the same way, the impact as if I was in a game.’’ Asked how he performed in practice, Thomas replied: "I felt like I did fine. I was trying to act like Barry (Sanders) out there.’’

New Orleans Saints Notebook: Pierre Thomas ready for long wait on sidelines to end