New Orleans Saints tailback Pierre Thomas said he’s hoping to be off crutches next week and maybe to remove the walking boot from his left ankle the week after that.

The Times-PicayunePierre Thomas is still trying to come back from an ankle injury.

But he’s still feeling pain in the lingering and mystifying ankle sprain, and he said he doesn’t know when he might be able to return the practice field.

“I don’t know. I really don’t,” Thomas said when asked what would be the next step if the ankle doesn’t start feeling better after these weeks of rest. “I’m just doing what I’m told, so I don’t know what’s wrong, what’s the problem. I’m just doing what I’m told.”

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Nakia Hogan, The Times-Picayune

New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers scouting report

When/where: At Bank of America Stadium, noon Sunday, Fox-8

The Panthers are having an abysmal season. They have one win in seven games, their worst start since 2004, when they opened 1-7. Coach John Fox, who is likely in his final season with the franchise, has tried to change the direction of the team with several personnel moves. But nothing, including swapping quarterbacks and shuffling the offensive line, has seemed to work.

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