Deonte Harris missed the Saints last seven games due to injury.
So when the return specialist was able to get back on the field, he said it felt like his “first time at recess.”
“I’m just glad to be back,” he said. “This is a game I loved to play since I was a kid, so I'm glad to be back."
The Saints were glad to have Harris back as well, as the second-year player had the best offensive game of his career.
Harris led New Orleans with seven catches for 83 yards, both game- and career-highs.
"If you have a big game, you have a big performance, that's been my motto since I was young,” Harris said. “They say big time players make big time plays and I'm just trying to make plays for the team."
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Saints coach Sean Payton said Harris did a good job of helping the Saints exploit the Bears’ defensive looks
“Drew (Brees) did a good job of coming off to some players,” Payton said. “Deonte's one of those guys in space that (can make plays). He made a number of plays today. That was significant. He's hard to tackle one-on-one. We tried to get him the ball on a few drive-starting plays. It's good to have him back in the lineup."
Harris said he wanted to make sure he made an impact in his return.
“It stunk that I had to miss some games,” he said. “I felt like those guys needed a little break. They're been going hard all season. I just wanted to come back and make plays."
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Harris wasn’t the only Saints player to return after and absence. Receiver Michael Thomas and running back Alvin Kamara also were back in the lineup for the Wild Card matchup.
“We had the issues the last couple of weeks with COVID and injuries and having most of the guys back from injuries,” he said. “Now we just want to get 100 percent healthy and make this Super Bowl run."