Kamara: It hurts to see people talk shit about Thomas

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara doesn't like the criticism Michael Thomas has received regarding the wide receiver's injury concerns.

"I just saw a couple of comments in the media about him," Kamara said Friday, according to ESPN's Katherine Terrell. "Basically like, 'You can't trust him. He's not being honest about his injury, why is he waiting until now to be ruled out?' I'm like, man, nobody knows what we go through in here. The masses get to see Sunday."

He added, "It's a lot of shit we've got to go through. A player like that, that's fighting to get back, not only for his team but for the fans and for this city. ... For people to be talking shit, it hurts my soul to see that."

Head coach Dennis Allen announced Thursday that Thomas will undergo toe surgery and isn't expected to return this season. The two-time All-Pro played the first three games of the year but missed the last five due to the injury.

This is the third straight season in which Thomas has missed time with injuries. The 2019 Offensive Player of the Year didn't play at all in 2021 due to a setback from an ankle injury that also sidelined him for multiple games in 2020. The 29-year-old has made only 10 regular-season appearances over the last three campaigns.

"Nobody's in here like 'Let me get injured and not play and just get paid,'" Kamara added. "We get paid to play, obviously, and we want to be available, but when you can't do it, there's certain things you've got to be smart about. He's not going to ruin the rest of his career for right now."

Thomas inked a five-year, $96.25-million extension in July 2019. He set a record for catches the following campaign with 149 for 1,725 yards and nine touchdowns. The Ohio State product, whom New Orleans drafted in the second round in 2016, led the league in receptions twice and topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first four NFL seasons while missing just one game.

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