blackangold

New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma tweeted Thursday that, according to coach Sean Payton, he will return to the practice field Monday after the Saints’ Week 7 bye:

As I mentioned in Thursday's morning report, Vilma is now officially eligible to begin practicing after being placed on injured reserve in Week 1 with a designation to return. He will be eligible to return to the active roster in Week 9.

It remains to be seen how quickly he'll return to the field and how much he'll be involved. The Saints themselves still need to get a good feel for how fully he can recover from a minor clean-up surgery on his knee during the preseason. Vilma, 31, has been hampered by the knee injury since the start of the 2011 season.

Jonathan Vilma says hell practice Monday - ESPN

I am not sure what role Vilma will play. I do not think we need Vilma as Hawthorne has played very well this season.

Thoughts?


Butler update:

Butler less likely: Outside linebacker Victor Butler also is eligible to resume practicing after spending the summer on the physically unable to perform list. That seems highly unlikely, though, since Butler tore an anterior cruciate knee ligament in June.

It’s a long shot that Butler will return at all this season. But the Saints do have time to wait. A change to the PUP list rules this year allows players to wait up until the start of Week 12 to return to practice. Then they’d have a three-week window to either be activated or placed on injured reserve for the rest of the season.

Saints morning report: Vilma returning? - NFC South Blog - ESPN