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Mike Tripplett

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- Drew Brees took yet another small step toward returning to action Wednesday when he participated in some individual passing drills with the quarterbacks and receivers for the first time. But it still seems extremely unlikely that the New Orleans Saints quarterback will play in Friday’s preseason game against the Tennessee Titans.

Saints coach Sean Payton declined to say whether Brees will play. But Payton has consistently said the team will be smart and cautious with Brees, who strained his oblique on Aug. 1.

Either way, Brees definitely appears as though he’ll be healthy in plenty of time for the start of the regular season. He has increased his workload on a daily basis, including a return to the lineup during the team’s afternoon walk-through on Tuesday, followed by his appearance in individual drills on Wednesday.

Plus, Brees showed some impressive agility while sliding across a makeshift slip-and-slide during his ALS ice-bucket challenge Tuesday.

In other Saints injury news:

Guard Ben Grubbs returned to live team drills for the first time Wednesday -- and he dove right in during a spirited set of live goal-line drills. Grubbs said it was a lower back issue that caused him to miss more than a week of training camp practices, but he feels good now and is blessed to have enough time to fully recover before the regular season.

Rookie linebacker Ronald Powell left the field with the trainers after hobbling off the field during a play. The details of his apparent injury are unknown.

There was still no sign of fullback Erik Lorig or linebacker Victor Butler at practice. Both players have been sidelined for nearly two weeks, though the Saints have not offered any details on the severity of their injuries.

Guard Jahri Evans and cornerback Patrick Robinson made brief appearances on the sideline Wednesday but did not participate in practice. Also not practicing Wednesday: receiver Kenny Stills, linebacker David Hawthorne, tight end Je’Ron Hamm, offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe, cornerback Rod Sweeting and safety Ty Zimmerman.

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New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees does more; seems doubtful for Friday - ESPN

Rugby Saint II

Lorig and Butler must be in the witness relocation program.

SaintFanInATLHELL

To quote one Allan Iverson:

"It's PRACTICE!"

The Saints will be 0-0 before the preseason game and 0-0 after. Sticking Brees (or anyone other veteran of importance) out there for a few snaps for a game that is specifically designed for talent evaluation is way across the stupid line.

The regular season prep game is always the first half of the 3rd preseason game. Any starter that is 100% healthy should play in that half. Otherwise stand on the sidelines and sip your Gatorade until the regular season starts.

SFIAH

jnormand

Who is Lorig and Butler? I vaguely remember having a couple guys on our team with those names but they must be gone now because I haven't seen them in weeks.

The Dude

I don't care what anyone says. Brees will need some real time practice with his receivers to iron out timing and stuff like that. Taking real hits in a preseason game is always beneficial in getting a body used to taking the kind of hits he will have to endure during the regular season. A body develops a muscle memory in how to take those hits with minimal damage. When Payton uses words like "rehab" and "easily reaggravated" in the same sentence as Drew Breese I can't help but get just a little concerned.

That being said there is no reason he should play this weekend, but by the final preseason game if he doesn't get at least a qtr I won't take that as a good sign