The New Orleans Saints have one of their shorter injury reports of the season as they head toward a Week 11 showdown with the Browns, but there will be a few key names to watch.
There were only three players held out of practice entirely on Wednesday, including linebacker Pete Werner due to a hand injury suffered late during the win over the Falcons that kept him off the field for the final few defensive series. Werner was in attendance in uniform and wearing a helmet but he was held out, said head coach Darrren Rizzi, as the injury continues to be assessed.
"Sometimes with the hand stuff you’ve got to figure out the best scenario for all kinds of different things ... so we’ll kind of see how that goes," Rizzi said, "That’s going to more of a day-to-day thing to get him ready for the weekend. I know mentally he certainly wants to play, so certainly if he can, he will.”
The head coach likened the injury to one that Willie Gay suffered earlier in this season, also against the Falcons, that cost the Saints LB multiple starts. His status will be one to watch as the week goes on.
Here's how the full Saints injury report broke down on Wednesday.
FP = full participation; LP = limited participation; DNP = did not participate
- G/C Lucas Patrick (ankle): DNP
- LB Pete Werner (hand): DNP
- RB Jamaal Williams (groin): DNP
- S J.T. Gray (hip): LP
- S Jordan Howden (shoulder): LP
- C Erik McCoy (groin): LP
- CB Kool-Aid McKinstry (hamstring): LP
- WR Cedrick Wilson Jr. (shoulder): LP
- LB Nephi Sewell (knee): FP
The other two players who did not participate in Lucas Patrick (ankle) and Jamaal Williams (groin) both also missed multiple weeks with their respective injuries.
The good news comes in the former of Kool-Aid McKinstry (hamstring) and Cedrick Wilson Jr. (shoulder), who both returned to practice in a limited capacity after missing all three days of work ahead of Week 10. Center Erik McCoy (groin) was also listed as a limited participant. He's expected to return for the first time since suffering an injury in Week 3 that required surgery to correct. He currently still remains on IR, as does LB Nephi Sewell.
On Cleveland's side there were no players held out. Here's how the Browns' initial injury report broke down.
- G Joel Bitonio (pectoral): LP
- LB Jordan Hicks (elbow/triceps): FP
- WR Jerry Jeudy (knee): FP
- QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (right finger): FP
- OT Jedrick Willis (knee): FP
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.
