RockyMountainSaint

04:43 PM CST on Wednesday, November 1, 2006

Associated Press

The New Orleans Saints are the most injured they have been all season as they prepare to play the Buccaneers in an NFC South game Sunday in Tampa, Fla.




Associated Press

Reggie Bush re-injured an ankle he hurt slightly in week 1 against Cleveland.

Three key offensive players -- starting left tackle Jammal Brown (sprained left ankle), wide receiver Joe Horn (strained groin) and rookie running back Reggie Bush (sprained left ankle) -- were held out of or limited in practice Wednesday.


Each is listed as questionable for Sunday's game, though Brown's availability seems to be the only one in question.


Bush said his ankle is fine, and he plans to practice Thursday and play Sunday. Coach Sean Payton said Horn is fine, too, but Brown, who wore a protective boot on the ankle that was injured during the second quarter of a 35-22 loss to Baltimore, said he's unsure if he'll play in the road game against Tampa Bay.


"It depends on how far the swelling comes down and the pain," Brown said Wednesday. "It's a sprain and a bone contusion."


Brown's backup, rookie seventh-round draft choice Zach Strief, also is questionable because of a dislocated right ring finger. The third-string tackle would be Rob Petitti.


Whoever lines up at left tackle could be matched against three-time Pro Bowl end Simeon Rice, who also is questionable because of a shoulder injury.


"I'm confident whoever lines up there will get the job done," quarterback Drew Brees said. "I've been on teams where a rookie has gone against a Pro Bowler and done fine. We'll be all right." Bush aggravated an injury originally sustained in the season opener against Cleveland.


"I could have gone today, but the trainers wanted me to give it a day's rest," Bush said. "There's no rush."


Bush was asked about comments made by Ravens linebacker Bart Scott, who tackled Bush on the play on which the injury occurred. After Bush was held to a season-low 21 total yards, Scott said he thought Bush "was just a guy," and called him a "media darling" and "the golden boy of the NFL."


"It doesn't bother me; it comes with the territory," Bush said of Scott's comments. "The guy doesn't make a play all day and he tackles me once and suddenly he's satisfied. His day is done." Scott tackled Bush three times among his six tackles in the game.


The Saints were eager to get back on the practice field after their worst performance of the season in which they committed five turnovers, were penalized 10 times and fell behind 21-0 in the second quarter.


"Everybody was a little salty after that loss," Brees said. "We know we have a division game coming up on the road after being home for a while."


New Orleans had three consecutive home games separated by a bye week, meaning they haven't been on the road since a 21-18 loss at Carolina on Oct. 1. That homestand began with a 24-21 victory against the Buccaneers, who led midway through the fourth quarter until Bush returned a punt 65 yards for the winning touchdown.


Payton had the team practice outside for the first time since the Carolina game to simulate the conditions in Tampa.


Meanwhile, New Orleans released wide receiver Chase Lyman, a 2005 fourth-round draft choice, from its practice roster. The team re-signed wide receiver Lance Moore, who had been released last week when wide receiver Michael Lewis was activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list, to replace Lyman on the practice roster.

I'm no one.
Who are you?

LongTimeFan

Let's just hope Horn plays Sunday, he's a must for us going into the Bucs game.

kuke

"Meanwhile, New Orleans released wide receiver Chase Lyman, a 2005 fourth-round draft choice, from its practice roster."

Man, this ends an era.

Did I say era? I meant error.