ATLANTA -- Running back Mike Bell is one of the Saints’ eight inactives for today’s game with the Atlanta Falcons in the Georgia Dome.

Bell, who has been nursing a right knee injury since a Week 2 game with the Philadelphia Eagles, practiced on a limited basis Wednesday. But he did not participate on Thursday and Friday and was listed as questionable for the game by coach Sean Payton on Friday.

Bell missed only two games after he was hurt against the Eagles, but has limped off the field a couple of times since returning. He is the second-leading rusher with 598 yards and a 4.2 average. Bell also has four touchdowns.

--The other inactives for today’s game are left cornerback Jabari Greer (sports hernia), strongside linebacker Scott Fujita (knee), right cornerback Tracy Porter (knee), linebacker Marvin Mitchell (hamstring), kicker John Carney and cornerback Marcus McCauley.

Wide receiver Lance Moore, who has missed the last five games with hamstring and ankle injurues, has been designated as the third quarterback.

--Randall Gay, who missed last week’s game at Washington with a right hamstring injury, is active and will start at left cornerback in place of Greer.

Rookie Malcolm Jenkins will start for the fourth straight week in place of Porter, while Troy Evans gets the nod for Fujita.

--Quarterback Matt Ryan (toe) and running back Michael Turner (ankle) head up the list of inactives for the Falcons.

Ryan and Turner did not participate in practice this week and were listed as questionable by coach Mike Smith. Chris Redman will make his second straight start in place of Ryan and Jerious Norwood starts for Turner.

Starting right cornerback Chris Houston (hamstring) and starting right guard Harvey Dahl (ankle) are also inactive.
 

LANDOVER, Md. --Kicker Garrett Hartley will be active for the first time this season when the Saints play the Washington Redskins today.

Hartley, who made all 13 of his field-goal attempts after being signed at midseason in 2008, served a four-game suspension at the beginning of this season for a violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

After returning, he was inactive for the next seven games as veteran John Carney continued to kick. But Saints coach Sean Payton elected to make Carney, who was 13-of-17 in field goals, inactive for today’s game.

Carney was shaky in the Saints’ 38-17 win over the New England Patriots on Monday night, hitting the left upright on a 30-yard field goal attempt that fell through and later missed a 37-yard attempt in the fourth quarter. He also snuck an extra point inside the right upright.

--In addition to Carney, the Saints’ other inactives are CB Randall Gay (hamstring), CB Tracy Porter (knee), CB Jabari Greer (groin), LB Scott Fujita (knee), WR Lance Moore (hamstring/ankle), LB Marvin Mitchell (hamstring) and G Jamar Nesbit.

--The Fox Network reported Sunday that Fujita has contracted a staph infection in his knee.

--Running back Reggie Bush is active for the first time in three games. Bush bruised his surgically-repaired right knee on Nov. 15 at St. Louis and missed the last two games.

--While Bush is back, Pierre Thomas is expected to start at running back.

Other lineup changes include Mike McKenzie for Greer, who is out for the fourth straight week, and rookie Malcolm Jenkins for Porter, who is out for the third straight game with a sprained left medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

Troy Evans gets the start in place of Fujita at strongside linebacker.

--The Redskins inactives are CB DeAngelo Hall (knee), RB Clinton Portis (concussion), CB Justin Tryon (hip), DE Renaldo Wynn, C Edwin Williams, LB Alvin Bowen and G Paul Fanaika. Richard Bartel is the third quarterback.
 

Saints coach Sean Payton has ruled cornerback Tracy Porter and wide receiver Lance Moore out of Sunday’s game with the Washington Redskins in FedExField.

The injury list Payton filed with the league office on Friday contained no surprises. Porter figured to miss his third consecutive game with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee, while Moore has not been able to practice this week because of hamstring and ankle problems.

Moore hasn’t played since spraining his left ankle on Nov. 2 against the Atlanta Falcons. He apparently was almost over the ankle injury when he injured his hamstring last week.

“It’s his ankle, and he has a hamstring that’s nagging him right now,” Payton said after Friday’s practice. “The type of ankle (injury) he had was fairly significant. He’s doing well with the rehab, it’s just not ready yet.”

--Porter and Moore were among four players who did not participate in practice on Friday. The other were cornerback Randall Gay (hamstring) and linebacker Marvin Mitchell (hamstring).

Fourteen other players were limited in practice, including defensive end Bobby McCray. He managed to get some work in after sitting out Thursday’s practice with back and knee issues.

--Payton’s complete injury list is as follows:

Out: CB Tracy Porter (knee), WR Lance Moore (ankle/hamstring).

Doubtful: CB Randall Gay (hamstring), LB Marvin Mitchell (hamstring).

Questionable: CB Jabari Greer (groin), RB Reggie Bush (knee), DE Bobby McCray (back/knee).

Probable: MLB Jonathan Vilma (knee), SLB Scott Fujita (knee), RB Pierre Thomas (wrist), TE Jeremy Shockey (elbow), LT Jermon Bushrod (thumb), RG Jahri Evans (toe), C Jonathan Goodwin (ankle), RB Mike Bell (knee/neck), RB Lynell Hamilton (shoulder), LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar (wrist), CB Chris McAlister (knee).

--Redskins coach Jim Zorn turned in the following injury list:

Out: RB Clinton Portis (concussion).

Doubtful: CB DeAngelo Hall (knee).

Questionable: DT Albert Haynesworth (ankle), CB Justin Tryon (hip).

Probable: FB Mike Sellers (ankle).

Portis and Hall did not practice Friday, while Haynesworth, Tryon and Sellers were limited.

--In an online vote of fans, Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been voted as the FedEx NFL Air Player of the Week for the fourth time this season.

It was the fourth win of the season for Brees, who was the fans’ choice over Tennessee’s Vince Young and Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers. The Safe Kids coalition of New Orleans will receive a $1,000 donation in Brees’ name, bringing the total for the season to $4,000.

Tennessee running back Chris Johnson was voted the FedEx NFL Ground Player of the Week.

NEW ORLEANS -- Running back Reggie Bush will miss his second straight game with a bruised right knee when the Saints meet the New England Patriots tonight in the Superdome.

Bush, who injured his knee at St. Louis on Nov. 15, was limited in practice this week and was listed as questionable when coach Sean Payton turned in his final injury report to the league office on Saturday.

Also inactive are CB Jabari Greer (groin), CB Tracy Porter (knee), WR Lance Moore (ankle), K Garrett Hartley, FB Kyle Eckel, DT DeMario Pressley and LB Jonathan Casillas.

Greer will be out for the third straight game, while Porter is sidelined for the second straight game. Moore will miss his fourth straight game with a left high-ankle sprain.

--Randall Gay, who was questionable after tweaking his right hamstring in last Sunday’s win over Tampa Bay, will start at left corner in place of Greer. Rookie Malcolm Jenkins will get the call at right corner for Porter.

Because of the injuries at cornerback, veterans Chris McAlister and Mike McKenzie will both be active for the first time. McAlister was signed on Nov. 18, while McKenzie, who played for the Saints from 2004-08, was signed last Monday.

--Defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis is expected to start after missing the last four games with a sprained right knee.

--The Patriots inactives are RB Fred Taylor (knee), CB Shawn Springs (knee), T Sebastian Vollmer (head), DT Ron Brace (ankle), LB Junior Seau, G Rich Ohrnberger and CB Kyle Arrington. Julian Edelman will be the third quarterback.

--Former Ouachita High School standout Jonathan Wilhite is expected to start in place of Springs at left cornerback for the Patriots.
 

TAMPA, Fla. -- Saints left tackle Zach Strief will be in the starting lineup for today’s game with the Tampa Bay Bucs, replacing Jermon Bushrod.

There was no immediate word on why Bushrod was removed from the starting lineup, but the switch is not believed to be injury-related. Bushrod, a three-year veteran, started three exhibition games and eight of the first nine regular-season games in place of an injured Jammal Brown.

Brown had sports hernia surgery in August and then in September had surgery on his hip, which eventually landed him on injured reserve.

The only game that Bushrod did not start since taking over for Brown was against the New York Jets, when he was inactive because of a knee injury. Strief started that day in Bushrod’s place at left tackle.

This will be the fifth start of Strief’s four-year career. He started one game in each of his first three seasons, with his first start coming in Raymond James Stadium.

--The Saints had four other lineup changes that were injury related.

Pierre Thomas is expected to start at tailback in place of the injured Reggie Bush (knee) , while Anthony Hargrove opens at defensive tackle for Sedrick Ellis (knee). The starting cornerbacks are Randall Gay and Malcolm Jenkins, who are replacing Jabari Greer (groin) and Tracy Porter (knee), respectively.

Jenkins, the Saints’ first-round draft pick this spring, will be making his first start.

Thomas is scheduled to make his second start of the season. He is the team leader in rushing yards (492) and shares the team lead with Bush in rushing touchdowns (five).

--The Saints inactives are RB Reggie Bush (knee), CB Tracy Porter (knee), CB Jabari Greer (groin), DT Sedrick Ellis (knee), WR Lance Moore (ankle), CB Chris McAlister, K Garrett Hartley and LB Jonathan Casillas.

--The Bucs inactives are WR Yamon Figurs, CB Mike Mickens, CB Elbert Mack, G Shawn Murphy, T James Lee, WR Brian Clark and DT Dre Moore. Byron Leftwich is the third quarterback.
 

Saints running back Reggie Bush was officially listed as questionable for Sunday’s game with the Tampa  Bay Buccaneers after missing practice for the third straight day Friday.

Saints coach Sean Payton said Bush has swelling in his left knee after taking a couple of hits on it during last week’s game at St. Louis. Even though he hasn’t taken any reps this week, Payton said Bush could still be a go on Sunday with what he said was a “bruised knee.”

“I think from a reps standpoint, I think he’s smart enough and knows what we’re doing -- and that’s the reason we listed him as questionable,” Payton said.

Payton said Bush, who had surgery twice on that same knee last fall, will keep the joint immobilized and would receive more ice and treatment and then see where he is during the team’s walkthrough practice Saturday.

Because it’s only a bruise, Payton said he doesn’t believe that Bush will have trouble with the knee the rest of the season.

“I think, like any one of these injuries, one of the reasons why we didn’t practice him is so that it’s not something that carries over until next week and the following and the following,” Payton said. “So it’s just managing it right now and getting it back to 100 percent.”

--Here is Payton’s official injury report for Sunday’s game:

Out: CB Jabari Greer (groin), CB Tracy Porter (knee), WR Lance Moore (ankle).

Questionable: RB Reggie Bush (knee), DT Sedrick Ellis (knee).

Probable: FS Darren Sharper (knee), C Jonathan Goodwin (ankle), TE David Thomas.

Not practicing along with Bush were Greer, Porter, Moore and Goodwin, who was held out after he banged up his ankle in practice on Thursday. Ellis was limited, while Sharper and Thomas had full participation.

--Here is the injury report filed by Bucs coach Raheem Morris on Friday:

Questionable: CB Elbert Mack (ankle).

Probable: WR Antonio Bryant (knee), CB Aqib Talib (hamstring), RB Carnell Williams (knee), TE Kellen Winslow (knee), CB Torrie Cox (not injury related), QB Byron Leftwich (throwing elbow).

Mack and Cox did not participate in Friday’s practice, while Leftwich was limited. Everyone else on the injury report participated fully.

--With Bush questionable at best and Moore and Porter already ruled of this week’s game, the Saints are seriously short on punt returners.

With that in mind, the Saints worked three players there this week -- wide receiver Devery Henderson, running back Pierre Thomas and Sharper.

Henderson and Thomas, however, have never fielded a punt in an NFL game, while Sharper, 33, hasn’t filled that role since he was with the Green Bay Packers.

--Payton said he didn’t know if cornerback Chris McAlister, who was signed Wednesday morning after a Tuesday tryout, will be active Sunday.

“We’ll see,” Payton said. “He practiced this week and the reason we signed him was because we feel like he’s going to be able to come in on a short week and do that. We’ll see.”

He said McAlister, an 11-year veteran, has picked up the playbook well.

“One of the things that he has with his experience is the ability to grasp the schemes and convert terminology that he’s used to -- some of it is similar,” Payton said.
 

ST. LOUIS -- Saints free safety Darren Sharper, who is tied for the NFL lead with seven interceptions, is one of the team’s eight inactives for today’s game with the St. Louis Rams.

Sharper injured his left knee in last Sunday’s game with the Carolina Panthers and did not practice Wednesday when the Saints returned to work. He had limited participation Thursday and Friday and was listed by coach Sean Payton as questionable for the game.

Also out today is cornerback Jabari Greer, who injured his groin in the fourth quarter against the Panthers. Sharper and Greer have combined for nine interceptions with that duo returning four of them for interceptions.

Third-year pro Usama Young will replace Sharper in the starting lineup, while Randall Gay, who is usually the nickel back, will move into Greer’s spot at left cornerback. Rookie cornerback Malcolm Jenkins will be heavily involved in the nickel and dime packages.

--Other inactives for the Saints are DT Sedrick Ellis (knee), WR Lance Moore (ankle), K Garrett Hartley, RB Lynell Hamilton and LB Jonathan Casillas. Chase Daniel is the third quarterback.

Hartley, Hamilton and Casillas are inactive by coach’s decision.

--Among the Rams inactives are G Richie Incognito, WR Ruvell Martin and CB Danny Gorrer.

 Gorrer was a member of the Saints practice squad until the Rams signed him to their active roster last week.

--Strongside linebacker Scott Fujita will be in the lineup for the first time since straining his left calf in an Oct. 18 game with the New York Giants.

Fujita missed three games and the final three quarters of the Giants game, which means he missed 15 consecutive quarters of play.

--Fujita will start instead of Jo-Lonn Dunbar, who has started the last two games. Troy Evans also had one start while Fujita was out.

Defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove will make his third straight start in place of Ellis.
 

--Saints wide receiver Lance Moore did not practice Friday and will not play in Sunday’s game with the Carolina Panthers, coach Sean Payton said.

Moore sprained his left ankle in the Saints’ win over the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night and has not practiced this week. He was seen in the locker room wearing a protective boot on his ankle and foot after Wednesday’s practice.

Moore was one of three players who were ruled out of the game with the Panthers. The others are defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis (knee) and nose tackle Kendrick Clancy (knee).

--Payton’s complete injury report for Sunday’s game is as follows:

Out: DT Sedrick Ellis (knee), WR Lance Moore (ankle), NT Kendrick Clancy (knee).

Doubtful: K Garrett Hartley (ankle).

Questionable: SLB Scott Fujita (calf).

Probable: C Jonathan Goodwin (knee), CB Malcolm Jenkins (ankle), LB Marvin Mitchell (foot).

Payton said Fujita, who has missed the last two games, did not practice Friday. He said Goodwin, Jenkins and Mitchell all practiced fully, while Hartley “tweaked” his ankle midway through the workout and was limited.

--Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme, who was taken to a hospital for tests after suffering a chest injury in Sunday’s win at Arizona, practiced fully for the third day in a row Friday and should be good to go against the Saints.

Panthers coach John Fox filed the following injury report with the NFL office:

Out: FB Brad Hoover (ankle).

Questionable: K John Kasay (groin), WR Muhsin Muhammad (knee), RB Jonathan Stewart (Achilles), TE Dante Rosario (knee), S Charles Godfrey (ankle), FB Tony Fiammetta (concussion), LB Landon Johnson (shoulder).

Probable: QB Jake Delhomme (chest).

Like Delhomme, Stewart and Johnson had full participation in Friday’s practice. The other six players on the Panthers’ injury report did not participate in the workout.
 

METAIRIE -- Saints fullback Heath Evans, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Sunday’s 46-34 win over the Miami Dolphins, was placed on injured reserve Thursday.

Evans, a nine-year veteran, had the knee ligament repaired on Thursday by Dr. James Andrews and will be sidelined for the remainder of the season.

The Saints signed Kyle Eckel, who has played in 17 games with the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles, to take Evans’ spot on the 53-man roster. Evans and Eckel played together with the Patriots in 2007.

The loss of Evans, who was injured after catching a pass early in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game, is a big blow to the Saints’ offense. While he was an effective blocker in the running game, he also scored three touchdowns -- two receiving and one rushing.

He rushed for 16 yards on five carries and had 10 receptions for 70 yards.

“He’s a guy that to date has really played well for us -- in the running game and passing game,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “So you never like to lose a starter.”

Eckel was in training camp with the Eagles this season, but was released on the final cut. The 5-foot-11, 237-pounder has 57 carries for 169 yards with two TDs in his NFL career.

--Payton also said defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis has a sprained right knee, which he suffered in the second quarter of Sunday’s game.

Ellis didn’t work Thursday and likely won’t practice this week as the Saints prepare for Monday night’s game with the Atlanta Falcons in the Superdome.

“The swelling is down and it’s better, but we wouldn’t know anything until later in the week,” Payton said. “I’m somewhat guarded as to the progress he’s making.”

--Also missing practice Thursday was strongside linebacker Scott Fujita, who did not play against the Dolphins because of a strained left calf.

Payton, however, said Fujita was making “a lot of progress” and that he was optimistic about him.

Tight end Jeremy Shockey (shoulder) was limited in practice, while cornerbacks Malcolm Jenkins (ankle) and Leigh Torrence (hamstring) worked fully after missing Sunday’s game.

--For the Falcons, running backs Jerious Norwood (hip) and Jason Snelling (hamstring) did not practice, while defensive end John Abraham (foot) and defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux (ankle) were limited.