Saints RB Khiry Robinson, RB Pierre Thomas out against 49ers
New Orleans Saints running backs Pierre Thomas and Khiry Robinson will sit out Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers, the team announced this afternoon.
Neither Robinson nor Thomas participated in practice on Thursday and Friday. This will be the third consecutive week that they have been sidelined, and running back duties will again fall to Mark Ingram.
Head coach Sean Payton said the team would keep an eye on Ingram out of concern for his work load in the last two weeks, which saw him carry 24 times against the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 26 and 30 times against the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 30.
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"The bigger concern was a Thursday game coming off a Sunday and the quick turnaround," Payton said.
"We'll be smart. We'll see what type of game (we want to play) and what type of role we want to use (with him) this game. But, I think the Sunday night, Thursday night turnaround was something we had to pay attention to."
In those two games, Ingram recorded 272 yards and three touchdowns on 54 carries.
In six games this year, Thomas has carried 30 times for 133 yards and two touchdowns. Robinson, in six games, has rushed 64 times for 330 yards and two touchdowns. Ingram has appeared in five games, carrying the ball 88 times for 431 yards and six touchdowns.
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Linebacker David Hawthorne is also out for Sunday's game with a hand injury. Tackle Zach Strief and wide receiver Robert Meachem are both listed as questionable.
The Saints, currently leading the NFC South with a 4-4 record, host the 49ers, third in the NFC West at 4-4, at 1 pm ET on Sunday.
- Christopher Woody
