Chargers vs. Saints injury report, betting odds: Michael Thomas out, Joey Bosa questionable

The New Orleans Saints are 1-0 with All-Pro receiver Michael Thomas in the lineup this season and 1-2 without him – and in that one victory the Saints had to rally from down 14 points against the terrible Detroit Lions. So, yeah, Thomas is pretty important to the Saints' success. He might have been healthy enough to return from an ankle injury to play Monday vs. the visiting Los Angeles Chargers but will not be on the field because of a team disciplinary issue. New Orleans was a 7.5-point favorite on the William Hill NFL odds but that is now down to -7.

Thomas has missed the past three with that ankle problem and did practice in a limited fashion last week but was officially ruled out Sunday because, according to reports, he punched teammate Chauncy Gardner-Johnson during a practice. And it's not the first time those two have tangled. New Orleans also will be without cornerback Janoris Jenkins, although fellow corner Marshon Lattimore, an All-Pro, likely will go. He missed the Lions game and is questionable.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, begins life without running back Austin Ekeler, who is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a severe hamstring injury suffered in Week 4 when the Bolts blew a 17-point lead and lost at Tampa Bay. All three of the Chargers' losses this season are by seven points or fewer. Offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga is out and receiver Mike Williams and defensive end Joey Bosa are questionable. Like Lattimore, Bosa is a former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (and a two-time Pro Bowler), but he's expected to play. Questionable generally means someone will play.  

One big story line Monday is that it surely will be the last time Drew Brees faces off against his former team. The San Diego Chargers selected Brees with the first pick in the second round of the 2001 draft out of Purdue – that was pick No. 32 overall as there were only 31 teams then. Houston joined the NFL the following season so now 32 would be the final pick of Round 1.

Brees is No. 1 all-time in the NFL in passing yards and TD passes, and he threw for 12,348 yards and 80 scores in his five seasons with the Chargers before leaving in free agency. On MNF, Brees ranks third all-time in both career passing yards (7,868) and passing touchdowns (57). He has reached at least 300 yards in three straight Monday night games.

How good was that 2001 Chargers draft? The team held the No. 1 overall pick but traded it to Atlanta, which chose Michael Vick. At No. 5 overall, the Chargers took TCU running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who already is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and will be joined in Canton by Brees five years after he retires.

It's the first-ever meeting between the Chargers and Saints on a Monday night. New Orleans has won the past three overall in the series.