11:40 LRN Sportscast December 28

The Saints were missing 16 players from their active roster due to COVID-19 and it showed in last night’s game against Miami as they couldn’t match-up with the Dolphins and lost 20-3. Coach Sean Payton says they had guys on the field who never practiced with the team…
Cut 15 (15) “…next week’s game.”
The Saints will close out the home schedule this Sunday when they take on Carolina. The Panthers are also dealing with a potential COVID outbreak as they have over a dozen players on the reserve COVID-19 list, including two of their top defensive players, defensive end Brian Burns and linebacker Shaq Thompson.

The Saints will need to win their final two games of the regular season to get into the playoffs and they need the Eagles to lose their final two. San Francisco losing to the Rams in the regular-season finale would also help.

The Pelicans will play their final game of 2021 tonight when they host Cleveland. New Orleans will likely play this game without its leading scorer as Brandon Ingram is listed as doubtful with Achilles’ soreness. Guard Josh Hart is questionable with an ankle sprain and Nickeil Alexander-Walker is out as a result of COVID protocols.

The LSU men’s basketball team is ranked 16th in both polls and will open SEC play tomorrow on the road against Auburn. Auburn is ranked 11th.

Today, Northwestern State visits top-ranked Baylor.

Hunters are happy to know that, so far, no cases of Chronic Wasting Disease have been presented in the Louisiana deer herd. State Wildlife & Fisheries veterinarian Dr. Jim Lacour says nearly 300 deer – submitted by hunters – have been tested, and all are negative…:
CUT 13 (09) “…get things done.”
State wildlife officials have intensified testing in Union and Morehouse Parishes after Arkansas authorities found chronic wasting disease in a deer taken near the Louisiana-Arkansas line in early December.