Filed under: Saints, NFC South
The Saints (8-3) have played this season in reverse. They started slow at 4-3, compared to ripping off 13 straight wins a year ago. They started the season with injuries and stayed injury-riddled for 10 weeks. Now, just when most teams are adding to their injury reports, the Saints are subtracting from theirs.New Orleans is expected to have tight end Jeremy Shockey (rib) and safety Darren Sharper (hamstring) back for this Sunday's game in Cincinnati, according to coach Sean Payton.
"One of the positives to this point of the season is that we've been able to gradually get guys healthy, factoring in the bye and then we had a short week for a Thursday game and then some extended time before we got into this week's practice, so that's encouraging," coach Sean Payton said.
The Saints might even have long-lost running back Pierre Thomas back on the field. Thomas, who has not carried the ball since a Week 3 injury to his ankle, was limited in practice on Thursday, but Payton said this week's game was targeted as a return for Thomas.
That might be a real good thing. There is a chance of poor weather Sunday and the Saints could use a decent run game if the wind is blowing around the football.
"It's understanding that it still comes down to having that balance (on offense), being able to rush the football if wind is a factor," Payton said. "That came up this year at San Francisco. I use that game as a good example because the wind can affect your passing game more than temperature.
"That was a game where the way we played those quarters was different because of the significant wind. You just have to as a coach be ready to adjust if the elements call for it."
The offense could get a spark with the long handoffs to running back Reggie Bush. He is gradually making his way back. He played in spots in the Thanksgiving Day win over Dallas.
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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/12/02/saints-grow-healthier-in-contrast-to-foes/
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