SmashMouth

NEW ORLEANS – Injured free safety Darren Sharper and linebacker Clint Ingram are not expected to play in the New Orleans Saints' exhibition finale Thursday night at Tennessee, leaving their roster status in doubt going into the final week of the preseason, according to league sources.

Each has been on Active-PUP and been unable to practice since the start of training camp. Whether they come off that list when the team returns to the practice field Monday is uncertain.

Both players were hoping to play in at least one exhibition game before the Saints open the regular season against the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 9 at the Superdome.

That appears unlikely now.

Sharper and Ingram continue to work themselves back into playing shape after undergoing offseason micro-fracture knee surgery.

The Saints roster currently stands at 76 and will grow to 77 when free agent defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy rejoins the team Monday after agreeing to terms on a one-year contract Sunday.

NFL teams must pare their rosters to 75 by Tuesday and to 53 by Saturday.

See Brian Allee-Walsh's bubble update
Saints officials now are faced with three options when it comes to Sharper and Ingram. The decision is viewed as one of the most important facing Coach Sean Payton as he prepares his team to begin defense of their Super Bowl XLIV championship:

- One or both players can reach injury settlements with the team and be waived/injured by Saturday.

- One or both players can be placed on the league’s Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list by Saturday, meaning each would have to miss a minimum of six weeks before coming back on to the active 53-man roster.

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