QBREES9

By SHELDON MICKLES
Advocate sportswriter

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton said Monday he had no news to report on strongside linebacker Scott Fujita, who left Sunday’s game with the New York Giants after straining his left calf.

Fujita, who was wearing a protective boot when he left the locker room after the game, was hurt in the first quarter of the 48-27 win over the Giants.

During his weekly news conference, Payton said it’s too early to tell if Fujita will be able to play in Sunday’s matchup with the Miami Dolphins.

“We’ll get a better feel as this week goes on what the extent of it is,” Payton said, “and whether it’s realistic that he has a chance to play this week or not. We won’t know that until later on.”

Fujita was replaced Sunday by eight-year veteran Troy Evans, who Payton said played well. Evans was credited with four tackles — including one behind the line of scrimmage.

Scoring machine

Before this season, the Saints scored 45 or more points five times in the franchise’s first 42 seasons.

They’ve done it three times in the first five games this year — piling up 45 points against Detroit and 48 each against Philadelphia and the Giants.

The other five times were against the St. Louis Cardinals (51) in 1969, Seattle (51) in 1976, Green Bay (51) in 2008, and Atlanta and the Giants (45) in 2003.

The Saints also tied the club record with seven touchdowns Sunday. New Orleans previously did that against St. Louis in 1969 and Green Bay last season.

‘Put ’em up’

Saints defensive tackle Remi Ayodele said he was surprised to see Giants running back Brandon Jacobs go into a boxing stance and raise his fists after he was tackled by Ayodele early in the fourth quarter.

“I said, ‘What are you going to do, fight me out here?’” Ayodele said with a laugh. “He said, ‘Get ’em up.’

2theadvocate.com | Saints | New Orleans LB Fujita's status unknown — Baton Rouge, LA

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