New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com - NOLA.com New Orleans Saints' key injured players starting to get healthier

It's been a cycle of continuous bad news for the Saints on the injury front, starting with outside linebacker Victor Butler's potential season-ending anterior cruciate ligament tear in mid-June during the last week of organized team activities.

Training camp opened with wide receiver Marques Colston and cornerback Patrick Robinson unexpectedly on the physically-unable-to-perform list. Then came a strained left elbow for linebacker Martez Wilson, followed by season-ending injuries to wide receiver Joe Morgan and defensive lineman Kenyon Coleman.

Then there were undisclosed ailments to running back Pierre Thomas and linebacker Junior Galette nearly a week ago. But little by little, the Saints are seeing progress with some of their key injured players.

Thomas, Wilson and Galette dressed out for Tuesday's practice for the first time since their injuries. Each player practiced to different degrees, but the fact all three at least dressed out in pads was a positive sign for the Saints.

Wilson sported a red, no-contact jersey on top of his No. 95. He also wore a hefty brace on his left arm when he went through walkthrough Tuesday morning.

"It feels good to just be back out here with the guys, but it's still tough because I'm not full go at all," Wilson said. "Coach (Sean Payton) is still being smart and holding me back and things like that.

"But just to be back out here, just to be running and conditioning, I'm doing as much running as I could. I think everything is going to plan. Coach is holding me back, being smart and letting me heal as much as possible."

Wilson was injured two weeks ago and his original prognosis to return was two to four weeks, with a month being the more likely scenario.

Wilson said there's "no doubt" he will be ready to play against Atlanta in Week 1.

"How worried was I? Oh, I was in tremendous pain," Wilson said when asked about if he feared the worst. "I wasn't worried, but I was just hoping that it wasn't severe. When I got my results back, no broken bones, no serious tears to my tendons and things like that, I knew it was going to be alright."

Wilson also said the brace on his arm is an adjustment, but he'll have to get used to since he'll be wearing throughout the season.

The fourth-year linebacker said his focus now is to re-acclimate himself with the playbook and Rob Ryan's 3-4 scheme.

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"Not only do you want to know the defense inside and out mentally, but you want to go through it (on the field) to see how you can adjust to certain formations you get or certain techniques you have to do for a certain defensive call," he said. "That (missing practices) hurt a lot."

Wilson also added: "I learn fast, so I can adjust when I come back."

The Saints are still keeping a tight lip on Galette's injury. He has worn a bandage on his left leg since leaving practice early last week.

Galette never got a rep during Tuesday's practice but was dressed out, which he hadn't done that since the injury. Galette said via Twitter on Tuesday he might be back next week.

As for Thomas, he appears to be well on his way back to full speed by the end of the week or early next week.

New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton thoughts on practice, Tuesday August 13, 2013 Sean Payton talks about his observations on training camp, the defense and paying attention to the small details of the game.
Thomas saw time Tuesday during walkthroughs and 7-on-7 drills. Thomas left practice nearly a week ago with an undisclosed leg injury and this was his first action in a full-scale practice since. Thomas also participated in Monday afternoon's walkthrough.

"It's not that he needs a lot of reps, but he needs X amount of reps from a running backs standpoint to be in football shape," Payton said. "His weight is down, mentally he is very sharp, so he knows our system. It's just a matter of getting enough work where by the time we open up in September his body is comfortable and use to the physicality of the game.

"There are a few of these guys that are going to slowing get acclimated, Patrick Robinson is one, Marques (who missed Tuesday's practice) ... Getting them ready, but they are veteran players especially when you look at Marques and Pierre."

But just when the Saints appeared to be on their way back from the litany of injuries, special teams standout Courtney Roby injured his toe when he landed awkwardly after downing a punt Tuesday and needed assistance to walk off the field.

New Orleans Saints' key injured players starting to get healthier | NOLA.com