Pete Werner is dealing with a significant hand injury this week, but there's still a chance he takes the field on Sunday against the Browns. We'll have to wait and see.
Werner has been in attendance at all three practices in full uniform but was held out of the first two days, wearing what appeared to be a soft brace on his right hand. He got in a limited practice on Friday wearing what appeared to be more of a club, and the team is still assessing whether he'll be able to take the field in Week 11. The injury was suffered late during a win over the Falcons.
"Pete wants to play and if he’s physically able to play and it’s not gonna do any more damage or anything like that to his current situation," interim head coach Darren Rizzi said. "So we’re gonna just literally take that right up until we can.”
Rizzi declined to specify the injury the 25-year-old linebacker is working through or whether he underwent surgery. Werner was one of seven Saints players listed as questionable heading into the weekend. If he's unable to go it'll likely be Willie Gay taking on a bigger role. Two players have been ruled out in G/C Lucas Patrick (ankle) and RB Jamaal Williams (groin).
Here's how the full Saints injury report broke down on Friday.
FP = full participation; LP = limited participation; DNP = did not participate
- G/C Lucas Patrick (ankle): DNP | DNP | DNP - out
- LB Pete Werner (hand): DNP | DNP | LP - questionable
- RB Jamaal Williams (groin): DNP | DNP | DNP - out
- S J.T. Gray (hip): LP | LP | LP - questionable
- S Jordan Howden (shoulder): LP | FP | FP
- C Erik McCoy (groin): LP | LP | FP - questionable
- CB Kool-Aid McKinstry (hamstring): LP | FP | FP - questionable
- WR Cedrick Wilson Jr. (shoulder): LP | LP | LP - questionable
- LB Nephi Sewell (knee): FP | FP | FP - questionable
The Saints are also expected to get center Erik McCoy (groin surgery) back in action for the first time since Week 3. McCoy was a full participant in practice on Friday for the first time since his injury.
"I thought we did the right thing here the last couple weeks with kind of his volume in practice, amped it up a little every day," Rizzi said. "He looks like he’s ready to go. Unless we have a setback between now and Sunday I imagine he’ll be in there.”
One other question will come in the form of linebacker Nephi Sewell who has now maxed out his 21-day practice window from injured reserve. The Saints either have to add Sewell back to the active roster this week or he'll officially be done for the season. The third-year linebacker hasn't played since suffering an torn ACL during Week 17 of last season. If Sewell is added back to the active roster the Saints would have to execute a corresponding move, meaning a cut or sending another player to injured reserve. Those decisions were expected to be made Friday afternoon, but won't likely be announced officially until Saturday.
On Cleveland's side only one player has been ruled out, and there are no players listed as questionable. Here's how the Browns final injury report broke down:
- G Joel Bitonio (pectoral): LP | LP | FP
- LB Jordan Hicks (elbow/triceps): FP | FP | FP
- WR Jerry Jeudy (knee): FP | FP | FP
- QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (right finger): FP | FP | FP
- OT Jedrick Willis (knee): FP | FP | FP
- DT Mike Hall (knee): n/a | LP | LP - out
The Saints (3-7) host the Browns (2-7) on Sunday for a noon kickoff at the Caesars Superdome. Catch all the action on WWL and Audacy.
