[LateNight]

METAIRIE, La. (AP) -New Orleans Saints' defensive tackle Hollis Thomas and veteran receiver Joe Horn each missed the last four games of the regular season, for very different reasons.

Thomas will be back for the Saints' second-round playoff game, following a suspension. Whether Horn has recovered enough from a groin injury to play still isn't certain.

While his teammates got the first part of the week off, Thomas worked out at the Saints' training headquarters, looking fresh and fit, coach Sean Payton said Wednesday.

Thomas was suspended by the NFL, which said he failed a test for banned steroids. Thomas has denied violating NFL policies, and said the positive test resulted from substances in his asthma medication.

Now that the suspension has ended, Thomas is once again eligible to practice and play with New Orleans.


Meanwhile, Horn aggravated a previous groin injury after his first catch in a game against San Francisco on Dec. 3 and has not played since. The injury also had sidelined him for two games earlier in the season.

Saints Have Thomas Back, Hoping for Horn