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Injury list nearly blank
If sufficiently rested, Bush could return punts against Indy
Wednesday, September 05, 2007 By Jimmy Smith


The Saints will enter Thursday night's season opener against the Indianapolis Colts at virtually full strength with only one player listed on the pregame injury report.
Tight end Mark Campbell, who has missed the last week and a half of work, including last Thursday night's exhibition game at the Superdome against Miami, is the only player deemed out for the Colts game.
Campbell, who has been hampered by a stiff back, underwent a second MRI exam on Monday that revealed no structural problems.
"It's still the same disk area, and he'll have a second epidural this week," Coach Sean Payton said after Tuesday's practice. "We'll see if we can't calm it down. The MRI, and I asked this question (of the medical staff on Monday), looked identical to the first one he had. He'll take the second epidural and see where it goes."
Campbell's absence will likely mean extended playing time for Billy Miller, and possibly for John Owens, should the Saints make three tight ends active.
Eric Johnson will probably get the bulk of the work Thursday.
Defensive tackle Brian Young, who has missed all of training camp while recovering from a broken foot, and defensive end Rob Ninkovich, who sprained the medial collateral ligament in his knee during training camp and has been out nearly six weeks, are both 100 percent, Payton said. Young will play, though likely not start. Whether Ninkovich is on the active roster will probably be a game-time decision.
RETURN TALK: Whether Reggie Bush returns any punts against the Colts will depend, Payton said, upon the situation and how much Bush had been used in the previous offensive series.
"I'll start off in a similar fashion as a year ago," Payton said. "We've got (Bush) and Lance (Moore) both working with the punt return unit."
PREP WORK: The Saints have spent the past two weeks focusing on preparation for the Colts, though Payton admitted there has been some film viewing longer than that.
"I think we spent some time in the offseason, when the schedule came out, looking at some of the early opponents," Payton said. "You know, every once in a while there's always that turnover where you might be looking at film on another team, or when you're researching (free-agent signee) Jason David when you start seeing game film."
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"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

cadilacin

This is what encourages me the most.

saintsrule

Great to hear, and I hope no one gets hurt in the game. The Saints were forunate with that last year.

KangaSaint

Its great to have a healthy camp going into the season,it will help the Saints in their push for SB.